Assessment of genetic diversity of the striped dolphin population in the Gulf of Taranto (Northern Ionian Sea, Central Mediterranean Sea)

The increasing recognition of the importance of biodiversity and genetic variation has led to more frequent calls for their preservation. Moreover, novel molecular and advanced genomic tools can be effectively employed to incorporate genetic variability and genomic information into conservation planning and sustainable programs, aimed at species conservation and slowing the erosion of biological diversity. The particular geomorphological and hydrographic features of Gulf of Taranto (Northern Ionian Sea, Central Mediterranean Sea), supports the occurrence of different cetacean species among that the striped dolphin is the more frequent and abundant species. The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic variability of this species in the study area, deepening the possibility to identify a subpopulation in the basin.