Megan is a PhD student at Southern Cross University under the supervision of Professor Peter Baverstock and Dr Rob Slade. She is currently researching the historic stock structure and genetic diversity in Area V humpback whales, using samples that were collected from humpback whales during commercial whaling operations, prior to 1963. The results from this research will be compared to genetic information from humpback whales within Area V today, to determine if genetic changes have occurred within this population since the end of whaling.

Megan has been undertaking genetic analyses of eastern Australian humpback whales for the past 4 years. She has been part of the Cape Byron Whale Research Project and The Oceania Project since 2000, and has developed the sloughed skin sample collection protocols used in both studies. The humpback whale skin samples collected during these projects are genetically analysed to not only provide information for comparison with historic samples, but also to individually identify, sex and determine the relatedness of whales.

Megan has attended the annual meeting of the South Pacific Whale Research Consortium since 2003, as part of the genetic working group. This association has recently led her to undertaking a study in collaboration with researchers from the University of Auckland to standardise microsatellite analyses so that individual identifications and paternity of humpback whales can be accurately matched between research groups. This project was funded through the National Heritage Trust, DEH Australia.

Publications

Anderson M.J., Hinten G., Paton D., & Baverstock P.R. 2001. A model for the integration of microsatellite genotyping with photographic identification of humpback whales. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 47(2): 451-457.

Elphinstone M., Hinten G., Anderson M., Nock C., & Baverstock P.R., 2002. An inexpensive and high-throughput procedure to extract and purify total genomic DNA for population studies. Molecular Ecology Notes 3: 317-320.

Poster Presentations

Hinten G.N., Anderson M.J., Paton D., Pellow W., Slade R., Valsecchi E., and Baverstock P., 2000. Integration of genetic tagging and photographic identification of humpback whales migrating along the east coast of Australia. Poster presentation at the Humpback whale Conference 2000, Queensland Museum, Brisbane, Australia.

Anderson M.J., & Baverstock P., 2003. Impact of historical commercial whaling on humpback whale genetic variation and stock recovery. Poster presented at the International Congress of Genetics, Melbourne Convention Centre, July 2003, Melbourne Australia.

Theses

Anderson M.J. 2000. Genetic fingerprinting of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) along the east coast of Australia, using microsatellite markers. Major Integrated project completed in fulfilment of the Bachelor of Applied Science degree, School of Resource Science and Management, Southern Cross University.

Anderson M.J. 2001. Establishing protocols for genetic surveys of humpback whales migrating along the east coast of Australia. Honours dissertation completed in fulfilment of the Bachelor of Applied Science (Honours) degree, School of Environmental Science and Management, Southern Cross University.

Other Reports

Anderson M.J., Steele D., Baverstock P., Olavarria C., & Baker C.S., 2003. Final report on the standardisation of genetic analysis protocols used in humpback whale research. Report produced in fulfilment of funding requirements for the Department of the Environment and Heritage, Australia.

Updated: 25 July 2010