Dr. Merel Dalebout

Killam Postdoctoral Fellow
Biology Department
Dalhousie University
1355 Oxford Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Office - L4, Room 4047
Phone: 1-902-494-1688
Lab space -L6, Marine Gene Probe Lab
E-mail: d a l e b o u t @ d a l . c a

From September 2005:

UNSW Vice-Chancellor's Postdoctoral Fellow
School of Biological, Earth, and Environmental Sciences (BEES)
University of New South Wales
Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
Link to the UNSW BEES
(Note that my Dalhousie e-mail address is still valid)

Genetic diversity and population structure of northern bottlenose whales

I moved to Canada in June 2003 to take up a 2-year Killam postdoctoral fellowship at Dalhousie University. Working in collaboration with Drs. Hal Whitehead and Daniel Ruzzante, we investigated population structure and gene flow in the northern bottlenose whale, Hyperoodon ampullatus, using nuclear microsatellites and mitochondrial mtDNA sequence. Specifically, we aimed to quantify levels of genetic interchange among three populations in the western-central North Atlantic; i) the Gully, a submarine canyon on the Scotian Shelf near Sable Island, ii) Labrador-Davis Strait, and iii) north Iceland. The Gully-Scotian Shelf is home to a small, endangered population of approximately 160 animals. No population estimates are available for the latter populations. Using a modified air rifle (PAXARMS system), skin biopsy samples were collected from free-swimming bottlenose whales in the Gully for genetic analysis. After two less than successful field seasons attempting to do the same with the bottlenose whales off northern Labrador, we decided to rely on teeth collected from animals taken by Norwegian whalers in this region and north Iceland in the late 1960's-early 1970's.

Labrador 2003 summer field season click here
Labrador 2004 summer field season - coming soon

Link to the webpage of Dr. Daniel Ruzzante

Link to Dalhousie University Marine Gene Probe Lab (MGPL) page

Back to main Whitehead lab page

Molecular systematics and DNA taxonomy of beaked whales


I obtained my PhD from the University of Auckland in March 2002 for a dissertation entitled, "Species identity, genetic diversity and molecular systematic relationships among the Ziphiidae (beaked whales)". Beaked whales are among the least known of all vertebrate groups. These deep-diving whales are rarely seen at sea and many of the 21 species now recognised have been described from only a handful of specimens. Using soft tissue samples collected from dead stranded animals and bones and teeth from specimens held in museum collections, I obtained DNA sequence data from the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes to investigate species distinctiveness and evolutionary relationships among these enigmatic whales. In the process, my colleagues and I discovered a new living species of beaked whale, Mesoplodon perrini. Morphological features distinguishing M. perrini from a Southern Hemisphere species, M. hectori are subtle and only molecular characters are fully diagnostic.

To read more about this new species, click here

Merel Dalebout page at University of Auckland Population Genetics and Evolution Research Group

www.DNA-surveillance and molecular monitoring for commercial whaling


I maintain strong links with the University of Auckland through my continued involvement in the Witness for Whales and DNA surveillance project. Have a look at the DNA surveillance website for more information about this work.
DNA surveillance Witness for Whales

MARS - Nova Scotia Marine Animal Response Society

I was also involved with MARS, the Nova Scotia Marine Animal Response Society (formerly Nova Scotia Stranding Network), currently being run by Tonya Wimmer. For more information click here

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Publications

Peer-reviewed material

Dalebout ML, Robertson KM, Frantzis A, Engelhaupt D, Mignucci-Giannoni AA, Rosario-Delestre RJ, Baker CS (2005) Worldwide structure of mtDNA diversity among Cuvier's beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris); implications for threatened populations. Molecular Ecology In press.
Download PDF of this paper (25MB!)

Dalebout ML, Russell KG, Little MJ, Ensor P (2004) Observations of live Gray's beaked whales (Mesoplodon grayi) in Mahurangi Harbour, North Island, New Zealand, with a summary of at-sea sightings. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand 34, 347-356. Download PDF of this paper

Endo T, Haraguchi K, Hotta Y, Hisamichi Y, Lavery S, Dalebout ML, Baker CS (2005) Total mercury, methyl mercury, and selenium levels in the red meat of small cetaceans sold for human consumption in Japan. Environmental Sceince and Technology. In press.

Dalebout ML, Baker CS, Cockcroft VG, Mead JG, Yamada TK (2004) A comprehensive and validated molecular taxonomy of beaked whales, family Ziphiidae. Journal of Heredity 95, 459-473. Download PDF of this paper

Gowans S, Hooker SK & Dalebout ML 2004 Hyperoodon ampullatus. Mammalian Species. In press.

Dalebout ML, Ross GJB, Baker CS, Anderson RC, Best PB, Cockcroft VG, Hinsz HL, Peddemors V, Pitman RL (2003) Appearance, distribution and genetic distinctiveness of Longman's beaked whale, Indopacetus pacificus. Marine Mammal Science 19, 421-461. Download PDF of this paper

Baker, C. S., Dalebout, M. L., Lavery, S. & Ross, H. A. 2003 www.DNA-surveillance: applied molecular taxonomy for species conservation and discovery. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 18, 271-272. Download PDF of this paper

Ross, H. A., Lento, G. M., Dalebout, M. L., Goode, M., Ewing, G., McLaren, P., Rodrigo, A. G., Lavery, S. & Baker, C. S. 2003 DNA Surveillance: molecular identification of whales, dolphins and porpoises. Journal of Heredity 94, 111-114. Download PDF of this paper

Baker, C. S., Dalebout, M. L., Cipriano, F. & Funahashi, N. 2003 A plausible range of incidental takes for RMP implementation simulation trials of North Pacific minke whale. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management Appendix 9, 132 (Vol. 5, supplmt, Annex D). Download PDF of this paper

Dalebout, M. L., Lento, G. M., Cipriano, F., Funahashi, N. & Baker, C. S. 2002 How many protected minke whales are sold in Japan and Korea? A census by microsatellite DNA profiling. Animal Conservation 5, 143-152. Download PDF of this paper

Dalebout, M. L., Mead, J. G., Baker, C. S., Baker, A. N. & van Helden, A. L. 2002 A new species of beaked whale Mesoplodon perrini sp. n. (Cetacea: Ziphiidae) discovered through phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial DNA sequences. Marine Mammal Science 18, 577-608.
Download PDF of this paper (2MB)

Download PDF of Heyning (2002) Nature letter regarding this discovery

van Helden, A. L., Baker, A. N., Dalebout, M. L., Reyes, J. C., Van Waerebeek, K. & Baker, C. S. 2002 Resurrection of Mesoplodon traversii (Gray, 1874), senior synonym of M. bahamondi Reyes, Van Waerebeek, Cárdenas and Yañez, 1995 (Cetacea: Ziphiidae). Marine Mammal Science 18, 609-621. Download PDF of this paper

Dalebout, M. L. 2002 Species identity, genetic diversity and molecular systematic relationships among the Ziphiidae (beaked whales). PhD thesis, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. Download PDF of abstract
A copy of my PhD thesis can be obtained from ProQuest Dissertation Express.
UMI number 3083930, Cost US$36 plus tax

Baker, C. S., Dalebout, M. L., Lento, G. M. & Funahashi, N. 2002 Gray whale products sold in commercial markets along the Pacific coast of Japan. Marine Mammal Science 17, 295-300.

Gales, N. J., Dalebout, M. L. & Bannister, J. 2002 Genetic identification and biological observation of two free-swimming beaked whales: Hector's beaked whale (Mesoplodon hectori, Gray, 1871), and Gray's beaked whale (Mesoplodon grayi, von Haast, 1876). Marine Mammal Science 17, 544-551.

Berrow, S. D. & Dalebout, M. L. 2002 Cuvier's whale Ziphius cavirostris Cuvier [description of specimen, AUNZ ZcaIRL-X2]. Irish Naturalists' Journal 27, 167-168. (note Genbank Accession number is incorrect - should be AY029230).

Berrow, S. D., Dalebout, M. L. & Conroy, J. 2002 Cuvier's whale Ziphius cavirostris Cuvier [desription of specimen, AUNZ ZcaIRL-X3]. Irish Naturalists' Journal 27, 168-169. (note Genbank Accession number is incorrect - should be AF516679).

Dalebout, M. L., Hooker, S. K. & Christensen, I. 2001 Genetic diversity and population structure among northern bottlenose whales, Hyperoodon ampullatus, in the western North Atlantic Ocean. Canadian Journal of Zoology 79, 478-484. Download PDF of this paper

Pichler, F. B., Dalebout, M. L. & Baker, C. S. 2001 Non-destructive DNA extraction from sperm whale teeth and scrimshaw. Molecular Ecology Notes 1, 106-109. Download PDF of this paper

Baker, C. S., Lento, G. M., Cipriano, F., Dalebout, M. L. & Palumbi, S. R. 2000 Scientific whaling: source of illegal products for market? Science 290, 1695.

Gowans, S., Dalebout, M. L., Hooker, S. H. & Whitehead, H. 2000 Reliability of photographic and molecular techniques for sexing bottlenose whales, Hyperoodon ampullatus. Canadian Journal of Zoology 78, 1224-1229. Download PDF of this paper (3.4MB)

Dalebout, M. L., van Helden, A., Van Waerebeek, K. & Baker, C. S. 1998 Molecular genetic identification of Southern Hemisphere beaked whales (Cetacea: Ziphiidae). Molecular Ecology 7, 687-694. Download PDF of this paper

Book chapters

Baker, C. S., Lento, G. M., Dalebout, M. L. & Pichler, F. 2003 DNA surveys and surveillance of marine mammals: species identification, discovery and management. In Marine Mammals and Humans (ed. N. Gales, M. Hindell & R. Kirkwood), Melbourne: CSIRO Publishing. pp. 366-382.

Reports to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission

Cooke J, Lavery S, Ma Y-U, Dalebout ML, Funahashi N, Carraher C, Robertson K, Brownell, RL, Baker CS (2005) Inference on by-catch levels from genetic identification of individual minke whales (Balaenoptera acuturostrata subsp.) on Korean markets 1999- 2003. Report to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission (SC/57/BC2).

Dalebout ML, Lavery S, Funahashi N, Ma Y-U, Endo T, Haraguchi K, Olavarria C, Baker CS (2004) Molecular identification of small cetacean species from Japanese and Korean markets, 1993 - 2003. Report to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission (SC/56/BC5).

Baker CS, Dalebout ML, Funahashi N, Ma Y-U, Steel D, Robertson, K, Lavery S (2004) Market surveys of whales, dolphins and porpoises in Japan and Korea, 2003 - 2004, with reference to stock identity of sei whales. Report to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission (SC/56/BC3).

Lavery S, Funahashi N, Ma Y-U, Dalebout ML, MacInnes H, Baker CS (2004) Mitochondrial DNA diversity and individual identification of North Pacific minke whales from coastal waters of Japan and Korea. Report to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission (SC/56/BC4).

Dalebout ML, Lavery S, Baker CS, Caballero S, Cipriano F, Ewing G, Goode M, LeDuc R, Lento GM, Pichler FB, Rodrigo AG, Rosel PE, Ross HA, Steel D (2003) www.DNA-surveillance Vs. 3.1: progress with a validated and comprehensive DNA database for species identification of whales, dolphins and porpoises. Report to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission (SC/55/SD8).

Lavery S, Baker CS, Dalebout ML, Congdon B, Steel D, Lento GM, Funahashi N, Ma Y-U (2003) Structure of mtDNA diversity among North Pacific minke whales from Japan and Korea. Unpublished report presented to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission (SC/55/RMP7).

Lavery S, Steel D, Dalebout ML, Ma Y-U, Funahashi N, Baker CS (2003) Market surveys of whales, dolphins and porpoises in Japan and Korea, 2002-2003. Report to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission (SC/55/BC1).

Dalebout, M. L., Lavery, S. & Baker, C. S. 2002 Stock identity of New Zealand Bryde's whales and relationship to whalemeat products from the Japanese and Korean markets. Report to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission (SC/54/SD1).

Lavery, S., Dalebout, M. L., Ma, Y., Funahashi, N. & Baker, C. S. 2002 Market surveys of whales, dolphins and porpoises in Japan and Korea, 2001-2002. Report to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission (SC/54/BC1).

Lavery, S., Dalebout, M. L., Funahashi, F., Cipriano, F., Robertson, K. M., Brownell Jr., R. L. & Baker, C. S. 2002 Census of North Pacific minke whales on the Japanese and Korean markets by DNA profiling: implications for plausibility of Implementation Simulation Trials. Report to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission (SC/54/RMP8).

Lento, G. M., Ross, H. A., Dalebout, M. L., Goode, M., McLaren, P., Rodrigo, A. G., Lavery, S. & Baker, C. S. 2002 DNA Surveillance: A Web-based system for molecular identification of whales, dolphins and porpoises. Report to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission (SC/54/SD2).

Thompson, K. F., O'Callaghan, P., Dalebout, M. L. & Baker, C. S. 2002 Population ecology of Bryde's whales in the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand. Report to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission (SC/54/O15).

Baker, C. S., Dalebout, M. L., Brownell, R. L., Robertson, K. M., Dizon, A. E., Funahashi, N. & Lento, G. M. 2001 Minimum census of minke whale by-catch from Korean waters in 1999 using DNA profiling. Report to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission (SC/53/RMP15).

Dalebout, M. L., Lento, G. M., Cipriano, F., Funahashi, N. & Baker, C. S. 2001 Geographic distribution of protected J-stock minke whales on Japanese markets, December 1997-October 1999. Report to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission (SC/53/RMP14).

Dalebout, M. L., Pichler, F. B., Lento, G. M. & Baker, C. S. 2001 Species identification of small cetacean products from Japanese and Korean markets, 1993 - 1999. Report to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission (SC/53/SM7).

Lavery, S., Dalebout, M. L., Lento, G. M. & Baker, C. S. 2001 Minimum census of minke whale by-catch from Korean waters in 2000/01 using DNA profiling. Report to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission (SC/53/RMP16).

Lento, G. M., Lavery, S., Dalebout, M. L. & Baker, C. S. 2001 Market surveys in Japan and Korea, 2000-2001: implications for impact on protected stocks. Report to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission (SC/53/SD6).

Dalebout, M. L., Lento, G. M., Cipriano, F. & Baker, C. S. 2000 Microsatellite profiling of North Pacific minke whales: stock differentiation and bycatch estimation. Report to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission (SC/52/RMP19).

Dalebout, M. L., Mead, J. G., Van Waerebeek, K., Reyes, J. C. & Baker, C. S. 2000 Molecular genetic discovery of a new beaked whale (Ziphiidae). Report to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission (SC/52/SM11).

Lento, G. M., Dalebout, M. L. & Baker, C. S. 2000 Market survey, 1999: molecular genetic identification of whale and dolphin products for sale in Japan and Korea. Report to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission (SC/52/SD17).

Baker, C. S., Dalebout, M. L. Lento, G. M. & Funahashi, N. 2000 New record of the endangered gray whale from the Pacific coast of Japan: implications for stock origins. Report to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission (SC/52/SD1).

Baker, C. S., Dalebout, M. L. Congdon, B. C. & Lento, G. M. 1999 Molecular genetic identification of whale and dolphin products for sale in Japan, 1998-1999. Report to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commision (SC/51/O15).

Lento, G. M., Dalebout, M. L. & Baker, C. S. 1998 Species and individual identification of whale and dolphin products for sale in Japan by mtDNA sequences and nuclear microsatellite profiles. Report to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission (SC/50/O8).

Other publications

Dalebout, M. L. & Baker, C. S. 2002 Mesoplodon perrini sp. n. Dalebout, Mead, Baker, Baker and van Helden 2002: notification of new species of living beaked whale (ZIPHIIDAE) from the eastern North Pacific. Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature 59, 284-286.

Dalebout, M. L. 2002 Bare bones & beaked whales [popular science article]. Nature Australia Spring 2002, 64-71.