Bowhead Whale Health Studies
Successful whaling crew. Photo credit: NSB-DWM
Bowhead Harvest Sampling
The NSB-DWM collects samples from subsistence-harvested bowhead whales whenever possible. The poster below shows many of the tissues that are collected and why they are collected for our health assessment monitoring program.
- George, J.C., et al. 2017. 2016 Health Report for the Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort Seas Bowhead Whales – Preliminary Findings. Submitted as paper SC/67a/AWMP/10 to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission, May 2017.
Incidental Findings
- Borchman, D., R. Stimmelmayr, C. George. 2017. Whales, lifespan, phospholipids and cataracts. Journal of Lipid Research 58:2289-2298.
- Stimmelmayr, R., et al. 2015. Bile collection technique in subsistence harvested bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus): Proof of concept study. Poster presented at the 12th International Effects of Oil on Wildlife Conference, Anchorage, Alaska, May 2015.
- Stimmelmayr, R., et al. 2016. Calcium oxalate urolithiasis in a bowhead whale: A case report. Poster presented at the Alaska Marine Science Symposium, Anchorage, Alaska, January 2016.
- Stimmelmayr, R., et al. 2017. Hepatic lipomas and myelolipomas in subsistence harvested bowhead whales Balaena mysticetus, Alaska (USA): A case review 1980-2016. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 127:71-74.
- Stimmelmayr, R., et al. 2019. Subcutaneous encapsulated fat necrosis and loose cavitary fat bodies in bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) from Alaska. Poster presented at the 2019 Biannual Marine Mammal Conference, Barcelona, Spain, December 2019.
- Stimmelmayr, R. 2020. Incidental findings of lens yellowing and cataracts in beach cast gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus), Alaska. Poster presented at the Alaska Marine Science Symposium, Anchorage, Alaska, January 2020.
- Stimmelmayr, R. et al. 2020. Blunt trauma involving the “stink-sac” (post-anal sac) in a beach cast gray whale (E. robustus), Alaska. Poster presented at the Alaska Marine Science Symposium, Anchorage, Alaska, January 2020.
More Studies
- Trumble, S.J., et al. 2015. Bowhead whale earplug reveals lifetime chemical profiles. Poster presented at the Alaska Marine Science Symposium, Anchorage, Alaska, January 2015.
- Go to this webpage on our website for more information regarding bowhead whale studies.
