By looking at the number of males who are siring offspring, we can determine the effective population size of the North Atlantic right whale. This number reflects how many whales in the population are actively breeding. Although it is generally agreed that there are about three hundred whales in the North Atlantic, we have no idea how many of these are producing offspring. Through photo identification, we can estimate the number of females who have reared calves. By combining this visual analysis with genetics to determine the number of reproductive males, we can get an estimate of the total number of breeding individuals in the population.
Some scientists suggest that a small effective population faces a strong likelihood of extinction.
Well, the most important step is to protect all the right whales. So, we need to learn more about that unknown group of females that Moe mentioned earlier. DNA will enable us to determine if the same males are fathering calves in both groups, or if there are other males associated with these females. Then we can compare reproductive rates and scarring to see if whales from this unlocated area are in greater danger than those we see in the Bay. Once all the whales are sampled, we can establish relationships and family trees for the entire population.