Stanford Report, July 24, 2003
Genetics study reveals that historic whale populations were much larger than previous estimates
Historic
populations of humpback, fin and minke whales were much
greater than previous estimates, says geneticist Stephen
R. Palumbi, professor of biological sciences at Stanford’s
Hopkins Marine Station. Using DNA analysis, Palumbi and
Harvard University researcher Joe Roman found that, before
being decimated by 19th-century commercial whaling, humpback
whales in the North Atlantic Ocean numbered about 250,000
-- more than 10 times larger than previous estimates based
on historic whaling records. The worldwide population
of humpbacks may have been as high as 1.5 million, according
to Palumbi. The International Whaling Commission has called
for a moratorium on commercial whaling until current populations
reach 54 percent of their historic numbers.
Humpback whale footage is licensed for
use on this Website by Daniel Zatz, Homer, Alaska. For
licensing information, call 907-299-1885 or email DZatz@SeeMoreWildlife.com.
Humpback whale footage is copyright © 2003 Daniel
Zatz.
