Genetic Identification and Population Assignment of Extralimital Sightings of Hector's Dolphins

ABSTRACT

Genetic identification from extralimital sightings can determine whether an individual comes from a small or large population, with conservation implications. Such is the case for the endangered Hector's and critically endangered Māui dolphins of Aotearoa/New Zealand. We compare the success of three opportunistic sampling methodologies (biopsy, sloughed skin, water sampling for environmental DNA) to identify subspecies of three dolphins encountered during two extralimital sightings in the northeast North Island/Te‐Ika‐a‐Māui. Only DNA profiling of a skin biopsy sample was successful in assigning an individual to both subspecies and population, suggesting this method should be prioritised for robust identification of future sightings.