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 valuable microbial information that can provide insights into the health of these endangered animals. Utilizing drones to capture spray from the blowholes of the whales, researchers analyzed the bacteria present in the spray and correlated this data with other health indicators to better understand the well-being of individual whales.
According to Carolyn Miller, a research associate at WHOI and the lead author of the study published in the journal International Society for Microbial Ecology, this discovery presents a promising avenue for conducting health assessments of the critically endangered North Atlantic right whales. With less than 400 of these whales remaining globally, factors such as ship strikes and entanglements in fishing gear pose significant threats to their population.
Since implementing the drone technique in 2016, researchers at WHOI have collected 103 samples from 85 North Atlantic right whales in Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts. The process involves flying a drone equipped with a petri dish over a whale as it releases breath through its blowhole. The captured spray is then swabbed from the dish for preservation and future analysis.
Although the use of drones for sample collection is not a new concept, researchers have now demonstrated for the first time that the bacterial composition in the breath of each whale is associated with its health status. By examining detailed images of the whales and existing data on factors like body condition, skin health, and the presence of whale lice, researchers identified links between certain bacterial profiles and the health of the whales. Thin whales, for instance, exhibited bacteria known to cause infections in mammals, while robust whales harbored bacteria commonly found in fatty, oil-rich environments.
Miller emphasized that the drone-based collection of whale breath samples, while challenging, offers a safer and less invasive alternative to traditional methods that require close proximity to the animals. The non-invasive nature of the drone approach ensures minimal stress on the whales, as they appear undisturbed by the presence of the drone during sampling.
The study’s innovative approach has garnered praise from experts like Sean Brillant, a senior conservation biologist at the Canadian Wildlife Federation, who emphasized the significance of this new tool in advancing knowledge about North Atlantic right whales. Brillant highlighted the potential for using breath analysis to monitor the health of whales over time, particularly those that have survived entanglements or ship strikes and may continue to experience health complications as a result.
In conclusion, the use of drones for collecting breath samples from North Atlantic right whales represents a groundbreaking method that not only aids in assessing the health of these endangered creatures but also offers a safer and more effective approach to conservation research.
