Baleen glucocorticoid, progesterone, and androgen metabolite concentrations in 4 female and 3 male south right whales stranded along the South African coastline

This data sheet contains glucocorticoid, progesterone and androgen concentrations from baleen of 4 female and 3 male southern right whales between 1987 and 2016. This study aimed to assess glucocorticoid concentrations in baleen of southern right whales. First, a validation study was conducted using five different assays (the data to the validation is included in the master data sheet). Pregnancy was chosen as a stressors to cause a possible elevation in the glucocorticoid concentration. After an appropriate assay was chosen the baleen was processed for glucocorticoid concentration. A baseline was calculated (the baseline was set at 1.5SD) and longitudinal profiles were constructed using R-studio. The profiles were assessed for any patterns that might appear. The research used data from two previous ethically approved UP studies (the data to those studies are also included in the master data sheet).