Genetic survey of endangered Antarctic blue whales shows surprising diversity
Wednesday, March 7, 2012 - 21:30
in Biology & Nature
More than 99 percent of Antarctic blue whales were killed by commercial whalers during the 20th century, but the first circumpolar genetic study of these critically endangered whales has found a surprisingly high level of diversity among the surviving population of some 2,200 individuals. That may bode well for their future recovery.