Analyzing stress-related hormones in Hudson Bay beluga blubber during good and poor feeding seasons

Authors

• Annabelle Kim
• Cortney Watt
• Justine Hudson
• CJ Mundy

  Abstract

  Hudson Bay belugas whales (Delphinapterus leucas) are an important Arctic sentinel species that provide economic, nutritional, and cultural value for Inuit communities. A study looking at beluga whale fat accumulation found seasonal and annual variation in blubber adipocyte size which suggests there are good and poor feeding years. This study uses blubber tissue to measure nutritional and physiological stress in the same beluga whale samples analyzing beluga whale diet and stress fluctuations based on stress-related hormone concentrations.

  Poster

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