Collecting baleen whale blow samples by drone: A minimally intrusive tool for conservation genetics

• Published in: Molecular ecology resources Vol. 24; no. 8; pp. e13957 - n/a
• Main Authors: O'Mahony, Éadin N., Sremba, Angela L., Keen, Eric M., Robinson, Nicole, Dundas, Archie, Steel, Debbie, Wray, Janie, Baker, C. Scott, Gaggiotti, Oscar E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.11.2024
• Subjects: Anthropogenic factors; Aquatic mammals; Balaenoptera physalus; baleen whales; Biopsy; British Columbia; Cetacea; Climate change; Compounding effects; condensates; Conservation; Conservation genetics; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; drones; ecology; fauna; Genetic diversity; genetic variation; Genetics; genotyping; Haplotypes; Megafauna; Megaptera novaeangliae; microsatellite repeats; mitochondria; Mitochondrial DNA; Natural resources; Population genetics; respiratory blow; Sampling; Sampling methods; Sex; Threatened species; unoccupied aerial systems; vulnerable species; Whales; Whales & whaling; British Columbia; respiratory blow; unoccupied aerial systems; baleen whales; drones; 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 to...