A group of scientists at the
CICIMAR are investigating the breeding behaviour of a school of blue whales
that visit the Sea of Cortez every year.
The survey has been underway
since the 1980’s and has generated an invaluable database of genetic and biological
information plus ID photos on almost 700 whales.
The huge bank of biological samples
collected - including skin, fat,
faeces, tissue – have enabled the scientists to conduct a lot of different research.
And genetic analysis has produced a set of data on the gender, pregnancy,
stress and general health of the whales.
Diane Gendron of CICIMAR said -“Discovering
new knowledge of its biology is a slow process but when it happens, supported
by the photo-identification is a unique thing in the world.”
(CICIMAR - The Ecology
Laboratory of Cetaceans and Quelonios in the Interdisciplinary Center of Marine
Sciences).