Obtaining Skin Samples From Living Sperm Whales

Whitehead, Hal; Gordon, Jonathan; Mathews, Elizabeth A.; Richard, K. R.

doi:10.1111/j.1748-7692.1990.tb00361.x

Cited by 68 publications

(62 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Startle reactions to biopsy sampling have commonly been reported in other species (e.g. Whitehead et al 1990) and seem to be a part of the behavioural repertoire of bottlenose dolphins as a response to external stimuli. Startle reactions are also observed during vessel approaches, changes in vessel speed, presence of predators and interactions with other dolphins (G. Tezanos-Pinto pers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Short-term reactions and long-term responses of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) to remote biopsy sampling

Tezanos‐Pinto

Baker

2012

New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research

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We analyse short-term individual and group behavioural reactions and long-term individual responses of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in New Zealand to remote skin biopsy sampling. The biopsy system employed uses a small stainless steel tip (5-mm diameter, 9-mm length) mounted on a lightweight polycarbonate projectile, fired from a modified veterinary rifle with adjustable pressure. Individual and group behavioural reactions were scored on a 5-point scale from 0 (no reaction) to 5 (strenuous reaction). A total of 187 individual and 145 group behavioural reactions were recorded from the Bay of Islands subpopulation, while 38 individual and 39 group behavioural reactions were recorded from the Doubtful Sound subpopulation. Short-term reactions (B1 min duration) were ranked from low or mild (levels 1Á2), as evidenced by startle responses, to moderate (level 3), as evidenced by multiple leaps of the sampled individual. Most attempts (99%) resulted in only mild reactions with only two attempts resulting in moderate reactions. There were no strenuous reactions by individuals or groups and no significant differences in behavioural reactions between the two subpopulations. Analyses of resighting rates and capture probabilities based on individual identification records for 40 of the biopsied dolphins showed no evidence of long-term avoidance responses. Wound healing was documented in for 10 dolphins across periods of 3 days to 7 months. Results reported here agree with previous findings showing that remote biopsy sampling causes only short-term reactions in both the targeted individual and its group.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Short-term reactions and long-term responses of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) to remote biopsy sampling

Tezanos‐Pinto

Baker

2012

New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research

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“…While with a group, we took identification (13) and measurement (14) photographs of as many different individuals as possible. Pieces of sloughed skin floating in the wake of whales were collected and used as a source of DNA (15)(16)(17).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patterns of kinship in groups of free-living sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) revealed by multiple molecular genetic analyses.

Richard

Dillon²,

Whitehead³

et al. 1996

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Mature female sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) live in socially cohesive groups of 10-30, which include immature animals of both sexes, and within which there is communal care of the young. We examined kinship in such groups using analyses of microsatellite DNA, mitochondrial DNA sequence, and sex-linked markers on samples of sloughed skin collected noninvasively from animals in three groups off the coast of Ecuador. Social groups were defined through photographic identification of individuals. Each group contained about 26 members, mostly female (79%6).Relatedness was greater within groups, as compared to between groups. Particular mitochondrial haplotypes were characteristic of groups, but all groups contained more than one haplotype. The data are generally consistent with each group being comprised of several matrilines from which males disperse at about the age of 6 years. There are indications of paternal relatedness among grouped individuals with different mitochondrial haplotypes, suggesting long-term associations between different matrilines.

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“…In an attempt to minimize the impact of our vessel's presence on the animals and their behaviour, we used small research vessels (less than 11 m) and our protocols maximized approach distance while not impacting our ability to undertake the intended data collection. After the individuals had dived, sloughed skin samples were collected in the slicks of individuals for genetic determination of sex, haplotype and pairwise relatedness [8,[19][20][21]. Relatedness of the individuals in this study was determined as by Gero et al [17].…”

Section: Materials and Methods (A) Field Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Calves as social hubs: dynamics of the social network within sperm whale units

2013

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It is hypothesized that the primary function of permanent social relationships among female sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) is to provide allomothers for calves at the surface while mothers make foraging dives. In order to investigate how reciprocity of allocare within units of sperm whales facilitates group living, we constructed weighted social networks based on yearly matrices of associations (2005 -2010) and correlated them across years, through changes in age and social role, to study changes in social relationships within seven sperm whale units. Pairs of association matrices from sequential years showed a greater positive correlation than expected by chance, but as the time lag increased, the correlation coefficients decreased. Over all units considered, calves had high values for all measured network statistics, while mothers had intermediate values for most of the measures, but high values for connectedness and affinity. Mothers showed sharp drops in strength and connectedness in the first year of their new calves' lives. These broad patterns appear to be consistent across units. Calves appeared to be significant nodes in the network of the social unit, and thus provide quantitative support for the theory in which communal care acts as the evolutionary force behind group formation in this species.

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Obtaining Skin Samples From Living Sperm Whales

Cited by 68 publications

References 12 publications

Short-term reactions and long-term responses of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) to remote biopsy sampling

Short-term reactions and long-term responses of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) to remote biopsy sampling

Patterns of kinship in groups of free-living sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) revealed by multiple molecular genetic analyses.

Calves as social hubs: dynamics of the social network within sperm whale units

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