Abstract
Jetsam ambergris, found on beaches worldwide, has always been assumed to originate as a natural product of sperm whales (Physeteroidea). However, only indirect evidence has ever been produced for this, such as the presence of whale prey remains in ambergris. Here, we extracted and analysed DNA sequences from jetsam ambergris from beaches in New Zealand and Sri Lanka, and sequences from ambergris of a sperm whale beached in The Netherlands. The lipid-rich composition of ambergris facilitated high preservation-quality of endogenous DNA, upon which we performed shotgun Illumina sequencing. Alignment of mitochondrial and nuclear genome sequences with open-access reference data for multiple whale species confirms that all three jetsam samples derived originally from sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus). Shotgun sequencing here also provides implications for metagenomic insights into ambergris-preserved DNA. These results demonstrate significant implications for elucidating the origins of jetsam ambergris as a prized natural product, and also for the understanding of sperm whale metabolism and diet, and the ecological mechanisms underlying these coproliths.
Highlights
Ambergris, a known natural product of the sperm whale [1,2,3,4], is found as jetsam on beaches worldwide [5], and has been highly prized for its utility in the perfume industry [6]
Shotgun sequencing here provides implications for metagenomic insights into ambergris-preserved DNA. These results demonstrate significant implications for elucidating the origins of jetsam ambergris as a prized natural product, and for the understanding of sperm whale metabolism and diet, and the ecological mechanisms underlying these coproliths
To further elucidate the origin of jetsam ambergris, we analysed DNA from an ambergris sample collected from a sperm whale beached in The Netherlands and compared it with DNA sequences isolated from jetsam ambergris collected from beaches in New Zealand and Sri Lanka
Summary
A known natural product of the sperm whale [1,2,3,4], is found as jetsam on beaches worldwide [5], and has been highly prized for its utility in the perfume industry [6]. Though, jetsam ambergris sometimes does contain fragments of squid beaks [4], and since cephalopods, such as squid, constitute the major dietary component of sperm whales, this has been cited as evidence of an origin of the jetsam coproliths from sperm whales. It is even theorized ambergris may originate as a pathological secretion from the irritant of the hard squid beak chitin [8]. To further elucidate the origin of jetsam ambergris, we analysed DNA from an ambergris sample collected from a sperm whale beached in The Netherlands and compared it with DNA sequences isolated from jetsam ambergris collected from beaches in New Zealand and Sri Lanka
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