Collecting baleen whale blow samples by drone:a minimally intrusive tool for conservation genetics
In coastal British Columbia, Canada, marine megafauna such as humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) and fin whales ( Balaenoptera physalus velifera ) have been subject to a history of exploitation and near extirpation. While their populations have been in recovery, significant threats are posed...
Published in: | Molecular Ecology Resources |
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2024
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Online Access: | https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/en/publications/969c1ff2-392c-4a2e-81bb-1948a81e6467 https://doi.org/10.1111/1755-0998.13957 https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/bitstream/10023/29615/1/O_Mahony_2024_MER_Collecting-baleen-whale_CC.pdf |
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ftunstandrewcris:oai:research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk:publications/969c1ff2-392c-4a2e-81bb-1948a81e6467 2024-10-13T14:06:14+00:00 Collecting baleen whale blow samples by drone:a minimally intrusive tool for conservation genetics O'Mahony, Éadin Sremba, Angela Keen, Eric Robinson, Nicole Dundas, Archie Steele, Debbie Wray, Janie Baker, C. Scott Gaggiotti, Oscar Eduardo 2024-04-04 application/pdf https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/en/publications/969c1ff2-392c-4a2e-81bb-1948a81e6467 https://doi.org/10.1111/1755-0998.13957 https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/bitstream/10023/29615/1/O_Mahony_2024_MER_Collecting-baleen-whale_CC.pdf eng eng https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/en/publications/969c1ff2-392c-4a2e-81bb-1948a81e6467 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess O'Mahony , É , Sremba , A , Keen , E , Robinson , N , Dundas , A , Steele , D , Wray , J , Baker , C S & Gaggiotti , O E 2024 , ' Collecting baleen whale blow samples by drone : a minimally intrusive tool for conservation genetics ' , Molecular Ecology Resources , vol. Early View . https://doi.org/10.1111/1755-0998.13957 Conservation genetics Drones Unoccupied aerial systems Baleen whales Respiratory blow Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) article 2024 ftunstandrewcris https://doi.org/10.1111/1755-0998.13957 2024-09-18T23:42:20Z In coastal British Columbia, Canada, marine megafauna such as humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) and fin whales ( Balaenoptera physalus velifera ) have been subject to a history of exploitation and near extirpation. While their populations have been in recovery, significant threats are posed to these vulnerable species by proposed natural resource ventures in this region, in addition to the compounding effects of anthropogenic climate change. Genetic tools play a vital role in informing conservation efforts, but the associated collection of tissue biopsy samples can be challenging for the investigators and disruptive to the ongoing behaviour of the targeted whales. Here, we evaluate a minimally intrusive approach based on collecting exhaled breath condensate, or respiratory ‘blow’ samples, from baleen whales using an unoccupied aerial system (UAS), within Gitga'at First Nation territory for conservation genetics. Minimal behavioural responses to the sampling technique were observed, with no response detected 87% of the time (of 112 UAS deployments). DNA from whale blow ( n = 88 samples) was extracted, and DNA profiles consisting of 10 nuclear microsatellite loci, sex identification and mitochondrial (mt) DNA haplotypes were constructed. An average of 7.5 microsatellite loci per individual were successfully genotyped. The success rates for mtDNA and sex assignment were 80% and 89% respectively. Thus, this minimally intrusive sampling method can be used to describe genetic diversity and generate genetic profiles for individual identification. The results of this research demonstrate the potential of UAS-collected whale blow for conservation genetics from a remote location. Article in Journal/Newspaper Balaenoptera physalus baleen whale baleen whales Megaptera novaeangliae University of St Andrews: Research Portal British Columbia ENVELOPE(-125.003,-125.003,54.000,54.000) Canada Molecular Ecology Resources |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of St Andrews: Research Portal |
op_collection_id |
ftunstandrewcris |
language |
English |
topic |
Conservation genetics Drones Unoccupied aerial systems Baleen whales Respiratory blow Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) |
spellingShingle |
Conservation genetics Drones Unoccupied aerial systems Baleen whales Respiratory blow Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) O'Mahony, Éadin Sremba, Angela Keen, Eric Robinson, Nicole Dundas, Archie Steele, Debbie Wray, Janie Baker, C. Scott Gaggiotti, Oscar Eduardo Collecting baleen whale blow samples by drone:a minimally intrusive tool for conservation genetics |
topic_facet |
Conservation genetics Drones Unoccupied aerial systems Baleen whales Respiratory blow Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) |
description |
In coastal British Columbia, Canada, marine megafauna such as humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) and fin whales ( Balaenoptera physalus velifera ) have been subject to a history of exploitation and near extirpation. While their populations have been in recovery, significant threats are posed to these vulnerable species by proposed natural resource ventures in this region, in addition to the compounding effects of anthropogenic climate change. Genetic tools play a vital role in informing conservation efforts, but the associated collection of tissue biopsy samples can be challenging for the investigators and disruptive to the ongoing behaviour of the targeted whales. Here, we evaluate a minimally intrusive approach based on collecting exhaled breath condensate, or respiratory ‘blow’ samples, from baleen whales using an unoccupied aerial system (UAS), within Gitga'at First Nation territory for conservation genetics. Minimal behavioural responses to the sampling technique were observed, with no response detected 87% of the time (of 112 UAS deployments). DNA from whale blow ( n = 88 samples) was extracted, and DNA profiles consisting of 10 nuclear microsatellite loci, sex identification and mitochondrial (mt) DNA haplotypes were constructed. An average of 7.5 microsatellite loci per individual were successfully genotyped. The success rates for mtDNA and sex assignment were 80% and 89% respectively. Thus, this minimally intrusive sampling method can be used to describe genetic diversity and generate genetic profiles for individual identification. The results of this research demonstrate the potential of UAS-collected whale blow for conservation genetics from a remote location. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
O'Mahony, Éadin Sremba, Angela Keen, Eric Robinson, Nicole Dundas, Archie Steele, Debbie Wray, Janie Baker, C. Scott Gaggiotti, Oscar Eduardo |
author_facet |
O'Mahony, Éadin Sremba, Angela Keen, Eric Robinson, Nicole Dundas, Archie Steele, Debbie Wray, Janie Baker, C. Scott Gaggiotti, Oscar Eduardo |
author_sort |
O'Mahony, Éadin |
title |
Collecting baleen whale blow samples by drone:a minimally intrusive tool for conservation genetics |
title_short |
Collecting baleen whale blow samples by drone:a minimally intrusive tool for conservation genetics |
title_full |
Collecting baleen whale blow samples by drone:a minimally intrusive tool for conservation genetics |
title_fullStr |
Collecting baleen whale blow samples by drone:a minimally intrusive tool for conservation genetics |
title_full_unstemmed |
Collecting baleen whale blow samples by drone:a minimally intrusive tool for conservation genetics |
title_sort |
collecting baleen whale blow samples by drone:a minimally intrusive tool for conservation genetics |
publishDate |
2024 |
url |
https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/en/publications/969c1ff2-392c-4a2e-81bb-1948a81e6467 https://doi.org/10.1111/1755-0998.13957 https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/bitstream/10023/29615/1/O_Mahony_2024_MER_Collecting-baleen-whale_CC.pdf |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-125.003,-125.003,54.000,54.000) |
geographic |
British Columbia Canada |
geographic_facet |
British Columbia Canada |
genre |
Balaenoptera physalus baleen whale baleen whales Megaptera novaeangliae |
genre_facet |
Balaenoptera physalus baleen whale baleen whales Megaptera novaeangliae |
op_source |
O'Mahony , É , Sremba , A , Keen , E , Robinson , N , Dundas , A , Steele , D , Wray , J , Baker , C S & Gaggiotti , O E 2024 , ' Collecting baleen whale blow samples by drone : a minimally intrusive tool for conservation genetics ' , Molecular Ecology Resources , vol. Early View . https://doi.org/10.1111/1755-0998.13957 |
op_relation |
https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/en/publications/969c1ff2-392c-4a2e-81bb-1948a81e6467 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1111/1755-0998.13957 |
container_title |
Molecular Ecology Resources |
_version_ |
1812812301057654784 |