Latest news with #allokelping
Yahoo
a day ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Orcas use kelp to groom each other, US researchers discover
The Brief Southern resident killer whales have been observed using detached seaweed as tools to rub against each other, a first for marine mammals. This unique behavior, called "allokelping," is thought to strengthen social bonds and maintain skin health among the whales. The survival of these critically endangered whales and their distinctive culture is threatened by declining food sources and warming oceans impacting kelp forests. Southern resident killer whales in the Salish Sea have been observed using detached pieces of seaweed to rub against each other, the first recorded instance of tool-making by marine mammals. This behavior, called "allokelping," may strengthen social bonds and contribute to skin health among the whales. Researchers from the Center for Whale Research (CWR) and the University of Exeter documented the behavior using drone footage. Whales were seen biting off kelp stalks, positioning them between themselves and a partner, and rolling the kelp between their bodies for extended periods. What they're saying "We were amazed when we first noticed this behavior," said Dr. Michael Weiss, CWR research director. He noted that bull kelp is "firm but flexible, like a filled garden hose, with a slippery outer surface," making it an ideal grooming tool. Unlike general "kelping," moving kelp for play or to remove parasites, allokelping involves the deliberate creation and cooperative manipulation of a tool by two whales. Dr. Weiss highlighted that the behavior is widespread among all ages and pods of southern resident killer whales, suggesting it's an important part of their social lives. Professor Darren Croft, of the University of Exeter and CWR's executive director, explained the significance of touch in animals, including humans, for moderating stress and building relationships. He suggested that using kelp could enhance this tactile experience and also benefit skin health. Brown algaes like bull kelp also have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that may offer additional benefits. By the numbers As of CWR's last census in July 2024, only 73 southern resident killer whales remain. Their numbers are critically low due to declining Chinook salmon populations (their primary food source), pollution, and noise from human activities. Bull kelp forests, where the whales source their tools, are also declining due to rising ocean temperatures. Big picture view Dr. Weiss expressed concern for the population's future. "Under the status quo, all of our projections indicate the population will continue to decline," Dr. Weiss said. He emphasized that losing these whales means losing "a complex society and a deep, unique set of cultural traditions." Professor Croft added that protecting kelp forests may be crucial for preserving this unique culture. The study, titled "Wild killer whales manufacture and use allogrooming tools," was published in the journal Current Biology. The Source Information in this story came from the Center for Whale Research. New US Marshals photos show high-stakes WA manhunt for Travis Decker $79M Seattle-area home is now most expensive listing in Pacific Northwest Seattle's Duwamish River Festival canceled over concerns of ICE agents Seattle to consider issuing $1k fines for illegal graffiti Report states half a million WA drivers have expired tabs To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
CNA
2 days ago
- Science
- CNA
Killer whales use seaweed as tools to groom each other
Killer whales are known for exceptional intelligence, displaying complex social structures and sophisticated communication. New research provides fresh evidence for this, documenting how these marine mammals use stalks of seaweed as tools to groom each other - as in, "You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours." Using drones to observe a population of killer whales in the Salish Sea, part of the Pacific Ocean between Washington state and British Columbia, researchers noticed that these predators engaged in a behavior they named "allokelping," one of the few known examples of tool use by marine mammals. The killer whales find large stalks of a type of seaweed called bull kelp, either attached to the seabed or floating at the surface. They then bite off the end of the stalk, position it between themselves and another killer whale and roll the kelp between their bodies. The researchers hypothesize that the behavior promotes skin health while strengthening social bonds. Other populations of killer whales have been observed rubbing their bodies on smooth stone beaches, possibly to remove dead skin. "Most examples of tool use in animals involve solving ecological problems, such as gaining access to food. For example, chimpanzees use sticks to fish for termites. What's remarkable about this discovery is that the tool - the kelp - is used not to obtain food but to facilitate social interaction," said marine biologist Darren Croft of the University of Exeter in England, co-author of the study published this week in the journal Current Biology. "This kind of socially motivated tool use is extremely rare in non-human animals and has previously only been observed in a small number of primates, usually in captivity," added Croft, executive director of the Center for Whale Research, a scientific organization based in Washington state that has studied this population of killer whales since the 1970s. The researchers documented the behavior among both male and female killer whales of all ages. It likely plays an important role in their social lives, Croft said. There are some other examples of tool use among marine mammals. Sea otters use rocks and other hard objects to crack open shells to get at the meat inside. And certain dolphins use marine sponges to protect their snouts and stir up the seabed while foraging. The researchers said the behavior by the killer whales goes one step further because they modify an object for use as a tool. "While this is not the first documented case of cetacean or marine mammal tool use, it is - as far as we know - the first case of cetacean tool manufacturing with tool use. The whales are not just finding perfect lengths of kelp in the environment, but rather actively modifying larger intact stalks of kelp to create the pieces they are using for allokelping," said study co-author Rachel John, a University of Exeter graduate student studying killer whale behavior. "Another key part of what makes this behavior so unique is the fact that they are manipulating the kelp cooperatively with a partner without the use of hands or any hand-like appendages. They use their mouth to position the kelp initially, but after that they only use the momentum and pressure of the core of their bodies to maintain contact with each other and the kelp between them," John added. The behavior is known only among this killer whale population. "We found that individuals with more visible peeling skin were more likely to engage in allokelping, suggesting that the behavior may serve a skin-care function. Brown seaweeds like kelp are known to have antibacterial properties, so it's plausible that rubbing with kelp helps improve skin health," Croft said. "Second, we think this behavior likely plays a role in maintaining social bonds. Physical contact is known to be important for social cohesion in many species, including humans. Just as we might hug a friend we haven't seen in a while, it's possible that allokelping serves to reinforce social relationships among whales," Croft added. This kelp grows in cold and nutrient-rich coastal and intertidal waters and thrives off the western coast of North America, which includes the home range of these killer whales. This population is at grave risk of extinction, Croft said, with only 73 individuals counted in the latest census. They are highly specialized salmon hunters, particularly reliant on Chinook salmon. As salmon populations have declined, in part due to dam-building on spawning rivers, the whales have struggled to find enough food. "In short, they are starving," Croft said.
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Science
- Telegraph
Watch: Orcas use seaweed tools to scratch each other's backs
Killer whales have been filmed fashioning seaweed sticks to scratch each other's backs in the first evidence of tool-making by marine mammals. Scientists spotted the behaviour in drone footage of orcas swimming in the Salish Sea, off the coast of Washington state in the US. The orcas were seen to bite off the end of a kelp stalk, position it between themselves and a partner and roll the kelp between their bodies for prolonged periods. Dr Michael Weiss, of the Centre for Whale Research (CWR), said: 'We were amazed when we first noticed this behaviour.' He added: 'The more observations we had, the more we realised they weren't just finding these pieces of kelp in the environment and grabbing them, they were actually fashioning these tools or these tools from complete kelp stalks.' Whales are known to play with seaweed and are often seen draping it over their backs or wearing it as hats in a process called 'kelping'. But this discovery is different because the kelp is deliberately selected, torn off and manipulated by two whales working together. Researchers have called the new behaviour 'allokelping', which means 'kelping with another'. The pieces of kelp the orcas use are around two feet long. The Salish Sea whales have been studied since the 1970s, and their habits were thought to be well known. But new drone technology has allowed researchers to observe behaviour that they believe may have been happening for decades without being seen. 'Happening all the time' Rachel John, a Master's student studying animal behaviour at the University of Exeter, said: 'We hadn't noticed 'allokelping' before because the videos being collected from our previous aircraft weren't of high enough quality, but the footage we're getting now shows this behaviour in great detail. 'I was watching one of those really close-up videos when I saw something that looked like a brown stick between two whales that were in contact with each other. We looked back at lots of videos and realised that rubbing kelp between their bodies wasn't just a one-off thing – it was happening all the time. 'And once we saw whales breaking off pieces of kelp intentionally, it became clear that this is not just play – this is something important in the social lives of the 'southern resident' killer whales.' Over a 12-day study period, the whales performed 'allokelping' on eight of the days and were more likely to carry out the practice on closely related whales or similarly aged partners, leading experts to suggest that it may be a form of grooming. Bull kelp stalk is firm and flexible, like a filled garden hose, with a slippery outer surface, which experts said made an ideal grooming tool. The team also saw some evidence that whales with more moulting or dead skin were more likely to take part in 'allokelping', suggesting that it may also serve as a hygienic function. Important for skin health Prof Darren Croft, of the University of Exeter and CWR's executive director, said: 'We know touch is really important. In primates – including humans – touch moderates stress and helps to build relationships. ' Killer whales often make contact with other members of their group, touching with their bodies and fins, but using kelp like this might enhance this experience. It might also be important for skin health. 'Whales and dolphins have a variety of strategies to help them slough dead skin, and this may be yet another adaptation for this purpose. 'Brown algae like bull kelp also have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that may provide further benefits to the whales.' Other killer whale pods have been spotted rubbing their bodies on smooth stone beaches, possibly to remove dead skin and parasites. However, the Salish Sea whales have not been seen doing this, suggesting that the kelp may offer an alternative solution. The researchers said it was unclear whether the grooming behaviour was entirely unique to this population or more widespread among other whale populations and species. The study was published in the journal Current Biology.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Science
- BBC News
Orcas use seaweed to help scratch each other's backs
Isn't it annoying when you've got an itch on your back that you just can't reach? Well orcas have found a way around that according to researchers. Scientists at the Centre for Whale Research (CWR) and the University of Exeter have observed the marine mammals making seaweed tools to massage and scratch each other's backs with. Dr Michael Weiss from CWR said they were "amazed" when they first noticed the the population of whales has been studied for 50 years, it's the first time the behaviour - called allokelping - has been observed as the cameras haven't been able to record in as high a quality before to see it. Allokelping involves the orcas detaching lengths of seaweed called kelp and biting off the end of it. Dr Weiss describes kelp as "firm but flexible, like a filled garden hose, with a slippery outer surface" adding "I suspect these features make it an ideal grooming tool."Once they've shaped it into a tool, they will put it between themselves and another orca and start massaging each other with behaviour was filmed by drones off in the Salish Sea, in the inland waters of Washington in the US. There are whale species where 'kelping' has already been observed. This is where whales move among the seaweed and sometimes wear it like a hat to keep their skin healthy. But allokelping is different because the kelp is specifically shaped by two whales working together. The behvaiour was seen in both males and females of all ages, although they were most likely to pair up with close relatives of their mothers or those of a similar age. Professor Darren Croft from the University of Exeter said: "We know touch is really important."In primates - including humans - touch moderates stress and helps to build relationships."We know killer whales often make contact with other members of their group - touching with their bodies and fins - but using kelp like this might enhance this experience."It might also be important for skin health. Whales and dolphins have a variety of strategies to help them slough dead skin, and this may be yet another adaptation for this purpose."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Drone footage reveals orcas using tools in a stunning first
Sign up for CNN's Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more. Behavioral ecologist Michael Weiss was browsing through new drone footage of the orca pods he studies in the Salish Sea when he spotted one of the killer whales carrying something green in its mouth and noticed an unusual behavior: Some orcas were rubbing against each other for up to 15 minutes at a time. At first, Weiss didn't think much of it 'because whales do weird things,' he said. But more observations yielded similar sights on his drone camera. 'I zoom in, and sure enough, there's clear as day this piece of kelp that they're using to rub on each other.' Over the course of just two weeks in 2024, Weiss and his team documented 30 examples of these curious interactions. They found that the southern resident orcas — a distinct population of killer whales — were detaching strands of bull kelp from the seafloor to roll between their bodies in a behavior the scientists dubbed 'allokelping.' Allokelping could be a form of grooming for skin hygiene, as well as a way to socially bond with other members of the pod, the researchers reported in a new paper published Monday in the journal Current Biology. The discovery marks the first time cetaceans — marine mammals including whales, dolphins and porpoises — have been observed using an object as a tool to groom. Across the animal kingdom, using tools is rare, according to behavioral ecologists. But when it does happen, it's often for finding food or attracting mates. 'This is a quite different way of using an object,' said Weiss, the study's lead author and research director of the Center for Whale Research in Washington state. There are two possible reasons behind the allokelping behavior, Weiss and his team hypothesize. Hygiene, such as treating or removing dead skin, could be one explanation. Cetaceans often shed dead skin, which helps keep their bodies smooth and aerodynamic. Skin lesions, particularly gray patches, are becoming more prevalent in southern resident orcas, Weiss added, so allokelping might be a way to treat those lesions. The other hypothesis, Weiss explained, is that allokelping is a way to strengthen social bonds, as the whale pairs seen exhibiting this behavior were usually close relatives or similar in age. 'These guys are incredibly socially bonded,' said Deborah Giles, an orca scientist at the SeaDoc Society who was not involved with the research. This behavior is fascinating but not entirely surprising, she added. Orcas are curious and tactile, with brains that are large compared with their body size, Giles explained, adding that some parts of the killer whale brain are more developed than what's seen in humans. Each orca population even has its own dialect. Cetaceans also have sensitive skin, explained Janet Mann, a behavioral ecologist at Georgetown University who has studied marine mammals for 37 years. Orcas are known to rub on other objects such as smooth-pebble beaches in Canada, or on algal mats. But it's unusual to see two individual killer whales using a tool to seemingly exfoliate each other, she said. 'What (the study) shows is that we know very little about cetacean behavior in the wild,' Mann said. Allokelping likely wouldn't have been discovered without advances in drone and camera technology, which have opened up 'a whole new world' for scientists to better understand cetaceans' complex lifestyles, Mann said. Historically, whales are observed from shore or from boats, offering a limited perspective of what's happening in the water. But drones offer a bird's-eye view of what marine animals are doing just below the surface. It's likely this population has been allokelping for a while, she said — only now we can see it. Orca scientists with drone footage are probably going to be on the lookout for this sort of behavior now, Giles said. Killer whales aren't the only cetaceans known to use tools, though. Some bottlenose dolphins have been observed carefully removing and using sponges to scare up prey on the seabed, a sophisticated behavior that only a small fraction of the population exhibits, said Mann, who has studied the dolphins in Australia's Shark Bay. Some other bottlenose dolphins use their tails to slap the ground in a circle, creating mud-ring plumes that trap fish. And humpback whales have long used bubble nets to catch prey. Whether these examples constitute 'using tools' is a topic of debate in the scientific community, but regardless, they are all behaviors related to foraging for food. What makes allokelping unique is its potential benefits for skin health and relationships — in other words, it appears to be a cultural practice. 'This idea of allogrooming (with tools) is largely limited to primates, which is what makes it remarkable,' said Philippa Brakes, a behavioral ecologist with the nonprofit Whale and Dolphin Conservation who was not involved with the research. 'This kind of feels like a moment in time for cetaceans, because it does prove that you don't necessarily need a thumb to be able to manipulate a tool.' Brakes, who studies social learning and culture in cetaceans, added that this new research 'tells us quite a lot about how important culture is for these species.' Each population — in this case, southern resident orcas — has a distinct dialect for communication, specific foraging strategies and now a unique type of tool use. In a rapidly changing environment, Brakes said, 'culture provides a phenomenal way for animals to be able to adapt,' as it has for humans. 'It's more reason to ensure that we protect their habitat as well as their behavior,' she noted. Indeed, southern resident killer whales are critically endangered and federally protected both in the United States and Canada, with a total population of just 74 whales. And as bull kelp is in decline due to human activities that disrupt the seabed and more frequent heat waves caused by climate change, the overall ecosystem is degrading. Kelp forests are also critical nursery habitat for juvenile chinook salmon — a key part of killer whales' diet, Giles said. Southern residents have been spending less and less time in the Salish Sea over the years, possibly because of dwindling prey, said Monika Wieland Shields, cofounder and director of the nonprofit Orca Behavior Institute. 'This study makes me wonder if one of the reasons the Southern Residents continue to visit the Salish Sea periodically even during times of low salmon abundance is to engage in allokelping,' Shields wrote in an email to CNN. The research is now leading to new areas of study. 'This cetacean data point is a really important one because it's completely novel,' said Dora Biro, an animal cognition researcher at the University of Rochester who was not involved with the study. Biro, who has mostly studied tool use in wild chimpanzees, added that examples of terrestrial tool use are much more widespread than in aquatic environments. She is now working on a grant proposal with Weiss' team to better understand the purpose of the behavior. But for Brakes, there doesn't necessarily need to be a purpose: 'The objective may just be social bonding, and that would still make it a tool.'
