Ancient bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) from Svalbard

The critically endangered Spitsbergen stock of bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) has once been large with up to estimated 100,000 individuals. A recent stock size estimate that took into account combined helicopter- and ship-based line transect surveys was roughly 350 individuals (Vacquié-Garcia et al. 2017). Genetic diversity of the extant Spitsbergen stock is unknown. We present data for ten complete mitochondrial genomes of old bowhead whale samples from Svalbard (14C age estimate range: 215 – 8,885 years) obtained via NGS of total genomic DNA.Bones from the 10 bowhead whales included in this study were collected at Svalbard during 1976–1997 for the purpose of dating raised beaches (for details see Borge et al. 2007). The 14C age of the bones ranged from 225 to 8,885 years. Total genomic DNA was extracted as described by Borge et al. (2007). Preparation of paired-end libraries, and analysis on an Illumina HiSeq 2000 was outsourced to StarSEQ GmbH, Mainz, Germany.

极度濒危的斯匹次卑尔根弓头鲸（Balaena mysticetus）种群曾规模庞大，估算个体数量最高可达10万头。近期一项结合直升机与船舶线样带调查的种群规模评估结果显示，该现存种群的个体数约为350头（Vacquié-Garcia 等，2017）。目前该现存斯匹次卑尔根种群的遗传多样性尚未明确。本研究提供了采自斯瓦尔巴群岛的10份古老弓头鲸样本的完整线粒体基因组数据，这些样本的碳14测年范围为215~8885年，通过对总基因组DNA进行下一代测序（NGS）获得。本研究涉及的10头弓头鲸骨骼，于1976年至1997年间在斯瓦尔巴群岛采集，采集初衷为测定抬升海滩的年代（详细信息参见Borge 等，2007）。这些骨骼的碳14测年范围为225~8885年。总基因组DNA的提取参照Borge 等（2007）的方法完成。双端文库构建及Illumina HiSeq 2000测序分析工作，委托给德国美因茨的StarSEQ GmbH公司承接。