{"id":96060,"date":"2026-08-03T05:13:20","date_gmt":"2026-08-03T05:13:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/96060\/"},"modified":"2026-08-03T05:13:20","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T05:13:20","slug":"british-rissos-dolphins-belong-to-single-population-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/96060\/","title":{"rendered":"British Risso\u2019s dolphins belong to single population"},"content":{"rendered":"

Risso\u2019s dolphins around the British Isles are part of a single population \u2013 genetically distinct from those elsewhere in the Atlantic, new research shows<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Scientists studied the DNA of dolphins that stranded in England, Scotland and Wales from 1992 to 2016.<\/p>\n

The results showed that that Risso\u2019s dolphins found around the British Isles are their own genetic entity, suggesting they don\u2019t mix much with other Risso\u2019s dolphins from further away and are genetically distinct from the closest populations in the Azores, the Mediterranean, and possibly the wider north Atlantic.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe results support the notion of Risso\u2019s dolphins in British waters having been isolated from other populations for some time. However, we did not sample every nearby part of the Atlantic, so it\u2019s not yet clear where the boundaries of this unit lie,\u201d said co-lead author Nicola Hodgins, from MARA<\/a> and a Visiting Researcher at the University of Exeter.<\/p>\n

While the study found no significant genetic differences between the animals around different parts of the British Isles, there may still be evidence of \u201csub-structuring\u201d \u2013 meaning that the dolphins may still live in or return to specific areas around the British Isles, in addition to remaining in specific groups over their lifetime.<\/p>\n

For example, recent analysis of Risso\u2019s dolphins in Scottish waters found less than 3% matches between individual dolphins photo-identified on the west and northern coasts, implying that Risso\u2019s dolphins exhibit a significant level of preference for particular areas. This is particularly important because Risso\u2019s dolphin numbers may be decreasing in some regions.<\/p>\n

To explore these boundaries and find out whether Risso\u2019s dolphins in British waters are truly unique to this area, more genetic samples are needed, with comparisons from nearby regions such as Norway, the Celtic Sea, the south\u2011west English Channel and the Bay of Biscay.<\/p>\n

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Using more advanced DNA techniques could further add resolution and give a fine-grained picture of connectedness between groups of Risso\u2019s dolphins around the British Isles \u2013 key information needed to accurately assess their conservation status.<\/p>\n

It could be argued that the population should be recognised as a \u201csub-population\u201d by the IUCN \u2013 as has been done for the Mediterranean sub-population, which is classified as Endangered.<\/p>\n

Future research combining information on behaviour, appearance, movements, vocalisations and genetics will help researchers better understand how Risso\u2019s dolphins around the UK are connected, how they use different habitats, and how best to protect them.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Hodgins said: \u201cGood conservation requires habitat-specific management. While Risso\u2019s dolphins are currently managed as a single UK population, local populations can face different threats and use habitats in different ways.<\/p>\n

\u201cEffective protection must therefore focus on safeguarding important habitats and addressing pressures at a local scale, where conservation measures can have the greatest impact.\u201d<\/p>\n

The research team included MARA, Nova Atlantis, Environmental Investigation Agency, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, Zoological Society of London, and the universities of Exeter, Glasgow, Zurich, Western Australia and Taiwan.<\/p>\n

Samples used in this study were collected by the UK Government funded stranding programmes, the Scottish Marine Animal Strandings Scheme (SMASS) and the Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP).<\/p>\n

The paper, published in the Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom (JMBA), is entitled: \u201cGenetic data indicate a lack of population structure of Risso\u2019s dolphins (Grampus griseus) around the British Isles.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

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