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Sperm Whale Seismic
Study (SWSS) Chronicle 9
 Special Reports from the SWSS Scientists
June 26, 2005
Dr. Dan Englehaupt
Research Associate and Biopsy Tissue Collector
Department of Biological Sciences University of Durham
Durham, England
Figure 1
 When a satellite-tag is attached to a sperm whale, a
biopsy sample is also collected. The small skin sample, or biopsy,
is taken from either the underside of the fluke (Figure 1) as the
animal dives or from either behind or below the animal's dorsal hump
(Figure 2). The biopsy sample contains a small amount of skin and
blubber which is preserved for later laboratory analysis. Each skin
sample provides valuable genetic information specific to that animal
and by using genetic analyses, researchers can determine the
identity of each whale. In addition to the genetic "fingerprint" of
the whale, biopsy sampling provides information about the sex of the
whale and it relatedness to other sperm whales in the group. An
additional component is to compare the Gulf of Mexico population to
other populations around the globe to see how they vary. This is
crucial towards the proper management of endangered species.
 Figure 2
In addition to sampling sperm whales, opportunistic
biopsy sampling of other marine mammals provides valuable genetic
samples for other research. Samples from dolphins (Figure 3), and
other species, are collected when animals approach the R/V Gyre and
the tagging boats.
Figure 3
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