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Conservation genomics

Inbreeding threatens iconic killer whales

Nature Ecology & Evolution volume 7, pages 647–648 (2023)Cite this article

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Unlike other North Pacific killer whales, Southern Resident killer whales have failed to thrive despite decades of conservation. Genomics combined with long-term observational records reveal inbreeding depression as a compelling explanation.

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Fig. 1: Southern Resident killer whales off the coast of Seattle, USA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Jacqueline A. Robinson

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  1. Jacqueline A. Robinson
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Correspondence to Jacqueline A. Robinson.

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The author declares no competing interests.

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Robinson, J.A. Inbreeding threatens iconic killer whales. Nat Ecol Evol 7, 647–648 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-023-02024-w

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