As we delve into the fascinating world of marine mammals, a team of scientists from the SETI Institute and the University of California at Davis has made a groundbreaking discovery. For the first time, they’ve documented humpback whales producing large bubble rings, akin to a human smoker blowing smoke rings, during friendly interactions with humans. This previously little-studied behavior may represent play or communication.

Humpback whales are already known for using bubbles to corral prey and creating bubble trails and bursts when competing to escort a female whale. These new observations show humpback whales producing bubble rings during friendly encounters with humans. This finding contributes to the WhaleSETI team’s broader goal of studying non-human intelligence to aid in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.

The study, published in Marine Mammal Science, analyzed 12 bubble ring-production episodes involving 39 rings made by 11 individual whales. According to Dr. Laurance Doyle, SETI Institute scientist and co-author on the paper, “Because of current limitations on technology, an important assumption of the search for extraterrestrial intelligence is that extraterrestrial intelligence and life will be interested in making contact and so target human receivers.” This assumption is certainly supported by the independent evolution of curious behavior in humpback whales.

Dr. Fred Sharpe, co-lead author and UC Davis Affiliate, notes, “Humpback whales live in complex societies, are acoustically diverse, use bubble tools, and assist other species being harassed by predators. Now, akin to a candidate signal, we show they are blowing bubble rings in our direction in an apparent attempt to playfully interact, observe our response, and/or engage in some form of communication.”

The team’s findings have significant implications for the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. By studying intelligent, non-terrestrial (aquatic), nonhuman communication systems, they aim to develop filters that aid in parsing cosmic signals for signs of extraterrestrial life.

Other team members and coauthors of the paper include Dr. Josephine Hubbard, Doug Perrine, Simon Hilbourne, Dr. Joy Reidenberg, and Dr. Brenda McCowan, with specialties in animal intelligences, photography, behavior of humpback whales, whale anatomy, and the use of AI in parsing animal communication.

An earlier paper by the team was published in PeerJ, entitled “Interactive Bioacoustic Playback as a Tool for Detecting and Exploring Nonhuman Intelligence: ‘Conversing’ with an Alaskan Humpback Whale.” The authors would like to acknowledge the Templeton Foundation Diverse Intelligences Program for financial support of this work.

The discovery of the oldest known whale bone tools has shed new light on the complex relationship between early human societies and marine mammals. A recent study conducted by researchers from the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA-UAB), the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), and the University of British Columbia has revealed that humans were utilizing whale bones as tools as far back as 20,000 years ago.

This groundbreaking research, led by Jean-Marc Pétillon and Krista McGrath, analyzed 83 bone tools excavated from sites around the Bay of Biscay in Spain, along with 90 additional bones from Santa Catalina Cave. Using mass spectrometry and radiocarbon dating, the researchers identified the species and age of the samples, revealing that at least five species of large whales were used by early humans.

The oldest bone tools date back to approximately 19,000-20,000 years ago, providing some of the earliest known evidence of humans using whale remains as tools. This significant discovery broadens our understanding of early human use of whale resources and offers valuable insights into the marine ecology of the time.

According to Krista McGrath, leading author of the paper, “ZooMS is a powerful technique for investigating past sea mammal diversity, particularly when diagnostic morphometric elements are missing from bone remains and objects.” The researchers were able to identify species such as sperm whales, fin whales, blue whales, and grey whales, which still inhabit the Bay of Biscay today.

Moreover, chemical data extracted from the bones suggest that the feeding habits of these ancient whales differed slightly from those of their modern counterparts. This finding points to potential changes in behavior or the marine environment, further emphasizing the importance of this discovery.

The study not only enhances our understanding of early human use of whale remains but also sheds light on the role whales played in past ecosystems. As we continue to explore and learn from these ancient interactions, we gain a deeper appreciation for the intricate relationships between humans, wildlife, and the environment.

Climate change is posing a severe threat to the habitat of bowhead whales, a threatened Arctic native species. New research has reconstructed an 11,700-year ecological baseline for bowhead whales and projects that sea ice loss will cause their habitat to severely contract by up to 75 per cent by the end of the 21st century.

An international team led by researchers from the University of Adelaide and the University of Copenhagen mapped the location and size of suitable summer foraging habitat for bowhead whales over the entire Holocene. The study used computer models, fossils, and whaling records to find that until recently, this habitat remained constant despite significant climatic fluctuations.

However, the team predicts that future climate change will erode somewhere between 65-75 per cent of this foraging habitat by 2100. In the Sea of Okhotsk, which is home to one of only four populations of bowhead whales, viable summer habitat is likely to vanish entirely by 2060.

The reason for the decline is the collapse of a tight association between bowhead whales and summer sea ice cover. “Bowhead whales have preferred to forage amongst sea ice for many millennia,” said lead author Mr Nicholas Freymueller. However, Arctic sea ice has declined significantly in recent decades, and this is set to accelerate in coming decades.

The study found that the few patches of suitable bowhead habitat predicted to remain in 2100 will exist outside their current distribution, directly impacting conservation policies. “By identifying the extent and location of bowhead whale habitat that is likely to be lost in coming decades, our projections provide vital information to guide future management efforts of this emblematic species,” said Professor Eline Lorenzen.

Bowhead whales are still recovering from four centuries of commercial whaling and are considered emblematic because the ongoing threats they face are reflective of those which all Arctic marine mammal species face due to climate change. The study shows how past perspectives can strengthen predictions of species’ future vulnerability to rapid ocean warming.

This research was published in Ecology and Evolution and provides a critical baseline for conservation efforts aimed at protecting this iconic species from the impacts of climate change.