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DETERMINATION OF PREGNANCY STATUS FROM BLUBBER SAMPLES IN MINKE WHALES ( BALAENOPTERA ACUTOROSTRATA )
Author(s) -
Mansour Atef A. H.,
Mkay Donald W.,
Lien Jon,
Orr James C.,
Banoub Joseph H.,
ØIen Nils,
Stenson Garry
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
marine mammal science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.723
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1748-7692
pISSN - 0824-0469
DOI - 10.1111/j.1748-7692.2002.tb01022.x
Subject(s) - blubber , minke whale , balaenoptera , biology , pregnancy , cetacea , fishery , whale , genetics
A bstract Measurement of progesterone concentration in blubber was developed as a method to detect pregnancy in minke whales. Progesterone was extracted and quantified from blubber samples of minke whale carcasses by radioimmunoassay. Results showed a highly significant difference (almost 60‐fold) between blubber progesterone concentrations of anatomically determined pregnant females versus non‐pregnant female or male carcasses. The results of the study suggest that the blubber progesterone concentrations might be used to determine pregnancy status in free‐ranging whales.