Genomic Analyses of Leopard Seals at Cape Shirreff

Program, Project, or Expedition Name:

Data Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bioproject?term=PRJNA1234666&cmd=DetailsSearch

Institution	LMRCSC, HU
Principal Investigator	Carolina Lewallen \| carolina.lewallen@hamptonu.edu
Funding Agency/Contract #	National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of Education Educational Partnership Program award (numbers NA16SEC4810007); NA21SEC48 10005)NSF BIO # 2401877; NSF OPP # 2146068
Collection Start Date	2008
Objectives of Data Collection Effort	Opportunistic sampling of leopard seals was conducted during tagging efforts. The objectives for sampling entailed genetic analyses (population genomics, relatedness, genomic individual identification)
Collection End Date	2018
Data Collectors Identifying Numbers	N/A
Ship or Other Platform Name	N/A
Geographic Location [Latitude(s)/longitude(s)]	Cape Shirreff (62 ̊28S; 60 ̊47’W), Livingston Island.
Units	N/A
Data Parameters	N/A
Precision	N/A
Observation Methodology	N/A
Instrument/Gear Identification of Description	Flipper tagging consisted of applying an ID-tag (Dalton Jumbo-rototag or Allflex ear tags) to the seal’s hindflipper while the seal was resting on shore. Tissue sampling during tagging was possible by recovering a small skin plug stuck to the tag pliers, or manually using a 2mm sterile biopsy punch (Miltex). Samples were stored in 95% ETOH and then kept frozen at -20deg C until processing.
Analysis Methodology	DdRADSeq data was obtained from tissue samples.
Data Processing/ Reduction Methodology	Genome mapping, heterozygosity and inbreeding estimations, relatedness analyses
Explanations of Data Quality Flags	Samples with low mapping rate were not included in the final analyses.
Citations of Relevant Publications and Grey Literature	Bonin, C.A., Vendrami, D.L.J., Goebel, M.E. et al. Genomic analyses reveal trans-generational haul out site fidelity in leopard seals. Sci Rep 15, 41627 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-25641-w