Isotopic values from paired blubber and skin samples from the same individuals were compared to assess whether tissues could be used interchangeably for isotope analysis and dietary interpretation. Blubber tissues were lipid-extracted prior to analysis, whilst mathematical lipid-correction was performed on skin samples. Samples were collected between 2008–2018 as part of long-term monitoring under the Humpback Whale Sentinel Program. This study used remotely biopsied blubber and skin tissues from southern hemisphere humpback whales for strategic comparison of δ 13C and δ 15N values. Critical comparison of tissue-specific isotopic signals is, however, lacking resulting in uncertainty surrounding the representativeness and therefore utility of different tissues for accurate determination of recent foraging. Blubber and skin are commonly used tissues in stable isotope analysis for the purpose of investigating cetacean diet.
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