Marine and Onshore Sampling of Whale Bones from 16th and 17th Century Basque Fishery Sites in Quebec and Labrador, for Molecular Analyses
Grant Funded: 2005-2007
The North
Atlantic right whale is one of the world’s most endangered large
whales with an estimated 350 individuals remaining. It has been proposed that the current status
of the species (with few remaining individuals and low levels of genetic
variability) is due to over 800 years of exploitation, with the most severe
being 16th century Basque harvesting in the Strait of Belle
Isle/Gulf of St. Lawrence. To address
this hypothesis we have conducted genetic analysis on whale bones found at Basque
sites in Quebec and Labrador. This work has resulted in the identification
of bone deposits at a number of Basque sites and successful extraction and
analysis of historic DNA from both terrestrial and marine bone deposits
Contrary to expectations, genetic analysis of almost 200 whale bones has
revealed that the majority of the specimens are bowhead whale, and only a
single right whale has been found. The
genetic characteristics of this single right whale bone have revealed that the
specimen came from a population of right whales that is genetically similar to
the population existing today, a finding that is in conflict with the current
view that harvesting depleted the genetic variability in this species. This raises many questions regarding the size
and distribution of historic right whale populations and suggests that small
population size and low levels of genetic variability may be characteristics
that pre-date whaling in the western North Atlantic. The samples that have been collected thus far
have come from sites ranging from Middle Bay, QC
to Chateau Bay,
NL.
To continue this research, we now propose to extend our sampling range to
include known/located Basque sites ranging from Middle Bay,
QC to Tadoussac,
QC.These sites may have a higher likelihood of containing right whale
bones, as they are more southerly, and within the known range of contemporary
right whale distribution. In the summer
of 2005 we plan to conduct terrestrial (and potentially marine) sampling at
sites that are located both by car, where possible, and by boat (S/V Rosita)
in more remote cases. The following
expense review outlines how funding will support this work, which includes
supplies, accommodations, food, and travel for 4-5 individuals.