Sperm Whales of the Gulf of Mexico DNA Register

Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus)in the Gulf of Mexico have been a focus of research and conservation concern due to their proximity to oil and gas exploration in addition to the devastating impacts to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. A collaborative research agreement funded through a partnered Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and Ecosystem Studies Units has provided the opportunity to bring together data from multiple research efforts focused on Gulf of Mexico sperm whales. As a part of the collaborative research agreement, DNA profiles were developed from 731 samples collected from multiple research groups. Of the 619 DNA profiles that passed quality control standards, 377 individuals were identified, with 307 individuals sampled in only one year, 44 sampled in two years, 17 sampled in three years, 6 sampled in four years, and 3 sampled in five years, with 134 within-year recaptures. Here, we provide the DNA register and associated capture histories that were developed as a part of the collaborative research effort and in partial fulfillment of Oregon State University master’s thesis requirements on behalf of Kelly A Lizewski. As a part of additional investigations, a Jolly-Seber model (with the POPAN formulation) was developed in R through the program RMark. Included here is the R code and associated R data file used in exploratory analyses of population parameters associated with Central Gulf of Mexico sperm whales.