Dokdo sea lion Zalophus japonicus genome reveals its evolutionary trajectory before extinction

The Dokdo sea lion (Zalophus japonicus), commonly referred to as Gangchi in Korea and the Japanese sea lion internationally, was endemic to the Northwest Pacific before its extinction in the 1950s. However, its origins, speciation, and genetic diversity remain poorly understood.

To address this, we sequenced DNA from 16 Z. japonicus bone fragments, obtained from Dokdo and Ulleungdo islands in Korea. Our genome-wide SNP analyses reveal Z. japonicus as the earliest diverged species within its genus, redefining its evolutionary relationship with the California (Z. californianus) and Galapagos (Z. wollebaeki) sea lions. Our research further elucidates the phylogeny of Z. japonicus, shedding light on the complexity of the genetic isolation process within its genus that was prompted by the geographic isolation of the three populations of Zalophus ancestral stock. Conversely, the genetic signature of the Dokdo sea lion genome can be modeled as an evolutionary pathway involving gene flow from Otariidae species with shared range. In addition, we discovered that the population decline of Z. japonicus started already over 100,000 years ago; however, Z. japonicus genome maintained a relatively high heterozygosity despite nearing extinction.

Our genome-scale analysis sheds light on the phylogeny of Z. japonicus, the evolutionary pathways underlying its speciation, and its genetic diversity before extinction. Broadly, we elucidate Zalophus gene flow complexity and genetic diversities among extant species. Furthermore, this study offers retrospective genomic insights into the extinction process of a carnivorous marine mammal, information that could aid conservation efforts for extant Otariidae species.