A beginner’s guide for using bone in marine mammal research

Abstract

Climate change has drastically altered ecosystems world-wide, making animal population data from before the modern era (<1950 CE) essential for establishing accurate baselines against which these changes can be measured. As a mineralized tissue composed of organic and inorganic materials, bone can archive ecological, physiological, and genetic data. Zooarchaeologists and archaeologists have developed extensive research disciplines using bones to study animal population changes over broad time periods; however, these approaches are underutilized in studies of marine mammal species. Here, we present a practical beginner’s guide for marine mammal biologists who are interested in using bone as a tool to perform retrospective studies on animal physiology, ecology, genetics, and conservation. Specifically, we give a brief overview of bone biology and the biomarkers preserved in different bone components. We provide suggested methods and best practices for destructive sampling and maximizing analyte data from small bone sample sizes, while also noting methodological limitations. We present a case study that highlights the use of bone to collect ecological, physiological, genetic, and biometric data for the Pacific walrus. Finally, we provide a conceptual guide that helps researchers identify the best methods for investigating their research question(s) of interest. We suggest bone is a critical tissue to address questions related to how adaptable marine mammal populations are to their rapidly changing environments in the post-industrial era.