Collecting baleen whale blow samples by drone: A minimally intrusive tool for conservation genetics.
Mol Ecol Resour
; 24(8): e13957, 2024 Nov.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38576153
ABSTRACT
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.
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Texto completo:
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
DNA Mitocondrial
/
Conservação dos Recursos Naturais
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Repetições de Microssatélites
Limite:
Animals
País/Região como assunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Mol Ecol Resour
/
Mol. ecol. resour. (Online)
/
Molecular ecology resources (Online)
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article