Sample summary and analysis of biopsy samples collected during the Antarctic blue whale voyage 2013

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: 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