A recent study conducted by scientists at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts has revealed that the breath of North Atlantic right whales contains crucial microbial information related to their health. Using drones, researchers collected spray samples from the blowholes of these endangered whales and analyzed the bacteria present. By correlating this data with other health indicators, they gained insights into the well-being of individual whales.
According to Carolyn Miller, a research associate at WHOI and the study’s lead author, this discovery offers a promising method for monitoring the health of these critically endangered whales. With fewer than 400 North Atlantic right whales left globally, threats such as ship collisions and entanglement in fishing gear continue to endanger the population.
Since implementing the drone technique in 2016, the researchers have gathered 103 samples from 85 North Atlantic right whales in Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts. The drone method involves flying a device equipped with a petri dish above a whale to capture its breath as it exhales through the blowhole. The collected samples are then swabbed and preserved for future analysis.
While the use of drones for sample collection is not new, this study marks the first time a link has been established between the microbial composition of a whale’s breath and its health status. By analyzing high-resolution images of the whales and existing data on factors like body condition and skin health, researchers observed that thin whales exhibited bacteria associated with infections, while robust whales had bacteria linked to rich, oily environments.
Miller emphasized the safety and non-invasiveness of collecting breath samples using drones compared to traditional methods that required researchers to approach the whales closely. The whales showed no signs of distress during the drone collection process, making it a more efficient and stress-free technique.
Sean Brillant, a senior conservation biologist at the Canadian Wildlife Federation, praised the study as an innovative approach to understanding North Atlantic right whales. He highlighted the importance of monitoring whale health over time, especially for those that have survived previous threats like entanglements and ship strikes. Brillant emphasized the potential of analyzing blowhole spray to track the long-term health effects on these animals.