Photograph: Whale Watch Western Australia
There’s a lot that we don’t perceive concerning the social behaviors of whales and dolphins. Dolphins off the Australian coast, for instance, have been noticed sporting sponges as hats in what’s believed to be an try, although not typically essentially profitable, to draw a mate. Likewise, in 1987 off the coast of Washington, a minimum of three teams of teenaged orcas inexplicably started sporting lifeless salmon as hats. The conduct unfold in what gave the impression to be a “fad” for just a few months earlier than disappearing once more.
Humpbacks and different baleen whales have been noticed “kelping”, balancing seaweed on their rostrum — their flat higher head. In a current research from Griffith College in Australia, researchers have noticed that this conduct is way extra widespread than beforehand appreciated. Additionally, whereas the exercise seems playful, it could produce other advantages for the whales.
The researchers collected over 100 examples on social media of whales taking part in with seaweed, often known as “kelping”. They observe that it’s not only one species – grey whales, southern and northern proper whales, and humpback whales all do it.
They noticed that, thus far, there are way more social media and information reviews on whale play with seaweed than scientific literature. A 2011 research in New South Wales described these interactions as playful conduct. Different researchers have documented cases of whales transferring logs via the water in Colombia or interacting with jellyfish on america East Coast.
From their new analysis, they deduced two issues. First, the conduct is playful. And second, it’s more likely to have a helpful part, comparable to utilizing the seaweed to scratch an itch (arduous with out palms), brush off child barnacles, or flick away whale lice – parasites that drive the whales mad.
Briefly, kelping is likely to be extra than simply play. Toying with seaweed may need advantages different than simply being enjoyable. A few of us take pleasure in seaweed wraps at a spa or as a facial masks.
It is likely to be the identical for whales. Some seaweed species have been discovered to scale back bacterial development, which could possibly be helpful for whales, as their pores and skin hosts a variety of viruses and micro organism. Whales should consistently shed their pores and skin to maintain on prime of bacterial development.
There are different prospects. Pushing via seaweed time and again might additionally assist whales rid themselves of undesirable visitors, such because the youth levels of barnacles and sea lice. As a result of whales are so giant, many species of invertebrates hitch a raise or spend their lives on these creatures – and infrequently to the whale’s annoyance. Gray whales off the coast of Mexico have repeatedly approached people for assist in preserving down numbers of itchy whale lice, which are literally extra carefully associated to a shrimp or small crab than to lice.
Here’s a brief video of a humpback kelping captured by Mark Girardeau whereas aboard Newport Coastal Journey.
Due to Dick Kooyman for contributing to this submit.
