A BIOPSY SYSTEM FOR SMALL CETACEANS: DARTING SUCCESS AND WOUND HEALING IN TURSIOPS SPP.
Corresponding Author
Michael Krützen
School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia E-mail: [email protected]
Person to whom correspondence should be sent.Search for more papers by this authorLynne M. Barré
National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, U.S.A.
Search for more papers by this authorLuciana M. Möller
Graduate School of the Environment, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales 2109, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorMichael R. Heithaus
Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada
Search for more papers by this authorColleen Simms
Department of Conservation and Land Management, Knight Terrace, Denham Western Australia 6537, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorWilliam B. Sherwin
School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Michael Krützen
School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia E-mail: [email protected]
Person to whom correspondence should be sent.Search for more papers by this authorLynne M. Barré
National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, U.S.A.
Search for more papers by this authorLuciana M. Möller
Graduate School of the Environment, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales 2109, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorMichael R. Heithaus
Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada
Search for more papers by this authorColleen Simms
Department of Conservation and Land Management, Knight Terrace, Denham Western Australia 6537, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorWilliam B. Sherwin
School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Together with PAXARMS (NZ), we developed a biopsy system for small cetaceans and tested it on four populations of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops spp.). The system consists of a modified 0.22 caliber rifle, and biopsy darts made out of polycarbonate with stainless steel biopsy tips. Animals were darted at a range of 2–15 m while travelling parallel to the vessel. Overall sampling success for obtaining biopsy samples when an animal was struck ranged from 96.6% to 100% in the four populations. However, hit rate varied for the four different populations. We did not observe a significant difference in strength of the reaction to the darting procedure when an animal was hit or missed, both among and within populations. Data from one population showed no significant difference in the reaction to biopsy sampling by four different age-sex classes. The only factor that had a significant influence on darting success was the hit location. Furthermore, we observed a significant positive correlation between the size of the sample obtained and the reaction to biopsy sampling. Biopsy samples were sufficient for microsatellite and d-loop analysis in 95.8% and for genetic sexing in 99% of all cases. In animals that we observed on a daily basis, wounds were healed after approximately 23 d.
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