We will study the abundance of whales and seals on and around the berg and on the way to it. We will conduct genetic and toxin surveys of the whales in the Antarctic using biopsy samples. Instead of shooting a harpoon gun, we will shoot photographs of humpback whale flukes and right whale callosities to identify individuals, and match these photographs to existing catalogues of individuals from other locations. Instead of aiming the cannon, we will fire a small crossbow and take biopsy samples to trace the whales genetic history and discover what toxins are loaded into their blubber. Even though Antarctica is thought to be a pristine environment, whales have records of toxins in their tissues.
Whales carry vital clues that help measure the health of the oceans.
The expedition will seek to discover where right whales feed in Antarctica and what migration routes they take. Scientists hope to uncover the migration route of humpback whales. Although we know that humpback and right whales migrate to Antarctica from warmer South Pacific locations, information on their Antarctic ecology is not known and very important. Finally, researchers will examine DNA to reveal which genetic stocks the whales of the region belong to. Do not reproduce any portion of content without written permission.