Deadly Bubbles

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Humpback whales are now part of the exclusive club of animals known to create and use their own tools for foraging, according to a new study.

The whale species are known to create “bubble nets” to catch krill and smaller fish. This technique requires the marine mammal to dive below prey and release bubbles from their blowholes to create a curtain that traps their meal.

But the new findings showed that whales manipulate their nets, said co-lead author Lars Bejder in a statement to the University of Hawaii News.

“These whales skillfully blow bubbles in patterns that form nets with internal rings, actively controlling details like the number of rings, the size and depth of the net, and the spacing between bubbles,” he said. “This method lets them capture up to seven times more prey in a single feeding dive without using extra energy.”

Scientists realized this after closely observing the whales feeding on krill off southeast Alaska during the summer and fall, using non-invasive suction-cup tags equipped with high-resolution cameras, drones and movement sensors.

The researchers noticed that up to 80 whales engaged in bubble netting over a three-day period. However, this behavior was not consistent – only about five to 10 percent of the large animals used this technique regularly.

Researchers believe its usage may depend on prey density, which means that humpbacks wouldn’t employ the foraging method if there is not enough prey.

The study adds some new layers to the species’ cognitive complexity and adaptability, which is crucial for their survival, especially as they face environmental and climatic changes.

“It is this behavioral flexibility and ingenuity that I hope will serve these whales well as our oceans continue to change,” said Andy Szabo, who also authored the study.

Future research aims to explore the energetic landscape and fitness of humpback whales further, considering different feeding behaviors and their implications for the whales’ survival and adaptation to changing ocean conditions.

“I think these whales are really, really good at knowing their environment and knowing the physics of their environment,” Jan Straley, a biologist at the University of Alaska Southeast, who was not involved in the study, told National Geographic. “They know the physical properties of the water column and how sound travels. They’re really smart for their world.”