Biopsy samples (small amounts of skin and blubber) were collected from humpback and blue whales during the Antarctic blue whale voyage 2013. For more information please see: http://www.marinemammals.gov.au/sorp/antarctic-blue-whale-project
This dataset consists of an access database summarising biopsy events containing the fields:
Pod: a combination of date and where the biopsy was taken from (small boat - Remora, or main vessel - Amaltal Explorer)
Ship reference: sighting number
Number of individuals sighted
Age class and sex
Satellite tag number
Biopsy sample number
Biopsy collection location (longitude and latitude)
Biopsy collection time (UTC)
Reaction to biopsy
Number of biopsy attempts
Photo ID images
Biopsy collection photo
Comments
An excel spreadsheet (Biopsy_info_ ABWV2013.xlsx) details the biopsy processing that occurred upon collection of a sample. Where possible, each blue whale sample was split and preserved in 2 x All Protect, 1 x EtOH and 1 x Nitrogen. Each humpback sample was additionally preserved in RNA later and stored at -20 degrees Celsius and individually detailed in spreadsheet Biopsy_info _ABWV2013(hbw).xlsx. Biopsy samples were processed to determine sex and relatedness using DLOOP analysis and the results are held in: 240513 BW Sexing Results.xls
