Ancient bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) from Svalbard. Balaena mysticetus

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，预估个体数量可达10万头。近期一项结合直升机与船舶搭载的样线调查的种群规模估算结果显示，该种群现存约350头个体（Vacquié-Garcia等人，2017）。目前该现存斯匹次卑尔根种群的遗传多样性仍属未知。本研究报道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，这些样本的碳十四（14C）测年范围为215至8885年，数据通过对全基因组DNA进行下一代测序（Next Generation Sequencing，NGS）获得。本研究涉及的10头弓头鲸骨骼标本，于1976至1997年间在斯瓦尔巴群岛采集，原始采集目的为测定抬升海滩的年代（详细信息参见Borge等人，2007）。这批骨骼的碳十四测年范围为225至8885年。全基因组DNA的提取方法参照Borge等人（2007）的描述。双端文库构建及Illumina HiSeq 2000测序分析工作外包给德国美因茨的StarSEQ GmbH公司。