A recent study conducted by researchers at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts has discovered that analyzing microbes in the breath of North Atlantic right whales can provide crucial insights into the animals’ health.
Utilizing drones to capture spray from the blowholes of these endangered whales, the scientists were able to examine the bacteria present in the spray. By correlating this microbial data with other whale health indicators, they gained a better understanding of the individual whales’ well-being.
Lead author Carolyn Miller, a research associate at WHOI, expressed excitement over this discovery, highlighting the potential for utilizing this method as a non-invasive way to monitor the health of the critically endangered species.
With fewer than 400 North Atlantic right whales remaining globally, factors such as ship strikes and fishing gear entanglements pose significant threats to their population. Since 2016, the WHOI researchers have collected 103 samples from 85 whales in Cape Cod Bay using the drone technique.
The innovative approach involves flying a drone equipped with a petri dish above a whale as it releases breath through its blowhole. The collected spray is then analyzed to identify specific bacteria, providing valuable health-related information.
By analyzing high-resolution images and existing datasets related to whale characteristics such as size, skin condition, and the presence of lice, the researchers linked specific bacterial profiles in the breath samples to the whales’ health status. Thin whales were found to harbor bacteria associated with infections, while robust whales exhibited bacteria typical of oil-rich environments.
Miller emphasized the advantages of using drones for sample collection, noting its safety and non-invasiveness compared to traditional methods involving close proximity to the animals. The whales appeared unperturbed by the drones, making the process simpler and less stressful for both researchers and the whales.
Sean Brillant, a senior conservation biologist with the Canadian Wildlife Federation, praised the study as a novel and valuable approach to understanding North Atlantic right whales. He highlighted the potential of this method for long-term health monitoring of whales affected by past incidents like entanglements or ship strikes.
Overall, the use of drone technology for breath sample collection represents a significant advancement in whale health monitoring, offering researchers a unique perspective into the well-being of these endangered marine mammals.