Latest news with #kelp
ABC News
3 days ago
- Science
- ABC News
Orcas filmed making tools out of kelp to give each other massages on the move
Humans will spend big bucks on a seaweed spa treatment, and why not? It's rejuvenating and relaxing: just ask a group of orcas. Southern Resident orcas — an endangered coastal population that swims off North America's Pacific north-west — have been observed rubbing specially fashioned pieces of kelp between themselves to create what looks like a massage on the move. Dr Weiss and his colleagues filmed these interactions via drone cameras in the Salish Sea, which is located in the Canadian province of British Colombia and the US state of Washington. Their observations were reported today in Current Biology. The orcas were filmed biting down on the kelp, jerking their heads and swimming downwards to separate a segment of the seaweed that sits between its base and leaf-like blades. "It's like a garden hose full of water: it's flexible, but it is also tough," Dr Weiss said. Other cetaceans, such as humpback whales and right whales, have been observed rubbing themselves in kelp and even wearing the seaweed like a hat. This behaviour is called 'kelping', but it is very different to what the orcas were observed doing, explained Olaf Meynecke, who leads the whales and climate program at Griffith University. Because the orcas are using the kelp collaboratively to massage each other, the behaviour has been named "allokelping" — allo being a term used in biology to signal "different" or "other". Dr Meynecke, who was not involved in the study, described the way this group of orcas engaged with the kelp as "much more active" than what has been observed with other cetaceans. "The orcas are grabbing it, they're moving it, they're actually putting it against another individual," he said. "The humpback whales and [other] baleen whales haven't done that; they are just happily rolling in it." Dr Weiss and his team recorded allokelping 30 times over eight (out of 12) days of filming in 2024. While the orcas themselves cannot explain the allure of kelp roller massages, Dr Weiss said there were hints in the data that could explain why they might do it. They found that individual orcas were more likely to allokelp with close relations along their maternal line and with individuals of similar ages, suggesting the behaviour served a social function. "They live in these very complex potentially challenging social environments where they're having to track dozens of relationships," he said. But the social benefits of this grooming behaviour may also have a element of skin care. When orcas shed their skin, it looks greyish and "peely", Dr Weiss said, and there is some evidence that individuals are more likely to engage in allokelping when they look peely. "We can't say for sure that it's actually removing the dead skin … it could be treating something about the discomfort related to dead skin," he said. Dr Meynecke from Griffith University has previously hypothesised that humpback whales may gain pharmaceutical benefits from kelping, and the orca's increased enthusiasm for allokelping when they shed skin might support his idea. Using an object to achieve a goal takes a bit of brain power, and it's a feat even more impressive when a species takes the extra step of making their tools, as these orcas have. But they're not alone: California crows cut pandanus leaves to skewer grubs in tree holes, chimpanzees sharpen sticks to 'fish' for termites, and elephants have been filmed using hoses. In 2008, bottle-nosed dolphins in Shark Bay, Western Australia were reported using sponges as tools to protect their noses while foraging on the sea floor. Georgetown University researcher Janet Mann, who first recorded this behaviour, said the latest study was "exciting", but pointed to her observations of "sponging" to challenge the claim that this is the first time whales or dolphins have been observed making tools. "It's a very delicate operation to detach a basket sponge from the sea floor without destroying the integrity of that basket," she said. But, she agreed, the use of tool to mutually groom each other was "unusual". "Chimpanzees will use leaves and sticks to groom themselves … but to mutually groom each other [with a tool] is unusual," she said. Southern Resident orcas are culturally and genetically distinct from other orcas in their region and communicate in a separate dialect. In the 1980s, they made headlines when they went through a fad of wearing dead salmon as hats — a trend that is rumoured to have returned. Dr Weiss said it wasn't clear whether this socially learned behaviour is a new fad, or ancient part of orca culture. Philippa Brakes, a cetacean ecology researcher at Massey University who was not involved in the study, said that the behaviours of this population made them unique. To do this, Dr Brakes said reducing ocean noise was important, as cetaceans communicate and learn from each other using added that the bull kelp orcas use was under threat from warming waters, and emphasised that the kelp needed to be protected in order to protect the whales' culture.
National Post
3 days ago
- Science
- National Post
B.C. orcas spotted using kelp tools to groom and bond with one another
In pricey spas, kelp facials and body wraps can set the aesthetically inclined human back hundreds of dollars. Article content But in the Salish Sea off British Columbia, southern resident killer whales are also using the sea plants for what scientists suspect are grooming purposes. Article content Researchers who have spent years studying the endangered whales say higher quality drones helped them spot the whales regularly breaking off pieces of kelp to use as a tool, pressed between their bodies. Article content Article content Michael Weiss, chair of the Center for Whale Research, based in Washington state, said the whales were spotted on video last summer rubbing bull kelp between their bodies. Article content Article content 'Other researchers have seen dolphins and whales using elements of their environment, or objects, to groom themselves. They'll rub themselves on rocks and sand and kelp to maintain their skin surface,' said Weiss, lead author of the study. Article content 'And we also have seen whales and dolphins rub on each other to potentially remove parasites and dead skin.' Article content But the southern residents' use of both types of behaviour at once has not been seen in other whales, Weiss said. Article content 'We haven't seen any reports of whales combining those two things and using an object to enhance this kind of social touch.' Article content The researchers observed the behaviour in southern residents across all social groups, both sexes, and all age classes. Article content Article content Weiss said other mammals, including primates, do use tools and groom each other, but the whales' situation is distinct, in part because two animals are getting shared benefits. Article content Article content 'We don't have one whale with a stick scratching the other one. We have two whales with kelp between them simultaneously rubbing it against each other. And that's really unique,' he said Article content He said primates rarely use grooming tools unless given them by humans. Article content 'This kind of widespread, common behaviour in the population — everyone seems to be doing it in the southern residents, they're doing it all the time — there's not really any examples of anything like that, where it's become commonplace in social interactions to use a tool to enhance that interaction,' he said. Article content 'So I think it's really special and it's a brand new context for tool use in marine mammals. It's not something we've seen marine mammals use tools for before.' Article content Weiss said the next steps for researchers are seeing how the skill is learned, understanding more about the whales' skin conditions, and taking a closer look at the social bonds the use of the kelp helps create.
CBC
3 days ago
- Science
- CBC
Orcas use kelp tools to groom and bond off B.C.'s coast, study suggests
In pricey spas, kelp facials and body wraps can set the esthetically inclined human back hundreds of dollars. But in the Salish Sea off British Columbia's coast, southern resident killer whales are also using the sea plants for what scientists suspect are grooming purposes. Researchers who have spent years studying the endangered whales say higher quality drones helped them spot the whales regularly breaking off pieces of kelp to use as a tool, pressed between their bodies. Michael Weiss, chair of the Center for Whale Research, based in Washington state, said the whales were spotted on video last summer rubbing bull kelp between their bodies. Research in the new edition of the journal Current Biology hypothesizes both hygienic and social purposes. "Other researchers have seen dolphins and whales using elements of their environment, or objects, to groom themselves. They'll rub themselves on rocks and sand and kelp to maintain their skin surface," said Weiss, lead author of the study. "And we also have seen whales and dolphins rub on each other to potentially remove parasites and dead skin." But the southern residents' use of both types of behaviour at once has not been seen in other whales, Weiss said. "We haven't seen any reports of whales combining those two things and using an object to enhance this kind of social touch." Researchers to study how skill is learned The researchers observed the behaviour in southern residents across all social groups, both sexes and all age classes. Weiss said other mammals, including primates, do use tools and groom each other, but the whales' situation is distinct, in part because two animals are getting shared benefits. "We don't have one whale with a stick scratching the other one. We have two whales with kelp between them simultaneously rubbing it against each other. And that's really unique," he said. He said primates rarely use grooming tools unless given them by humans. "This kind of widespread, common behaviour in the population — everyone seems to be doing it in the southern residents, they're doing it all the time — there's not really any examples of anything like that, where it's become commonplace in social interactions to use a tool to enhance that interaction," he said. "So I think it's really special and it's a brand new context for tool use in marine mammals. It's not something we've seen marine mammals use tools for before." Weiss said the next steps for researchers are seeing how the skill is learned, understanding more about the whales' skin conditions and taking a closer look at the social bonds the use of the kelp helps create. "Seeing if whales who perform this behaviour together are more likely to then co-operate in other ways later. Are they more likely to chase fish together? Are they more likely to share food with one another, or do other social interactions?" he said. Protection critical to conserve 'unique culture' Southern resident orcas along the West Coast are categorized into three families known as the J, K and L pods, each of which has its own dialect and calls that differ from the others. There are also transient orcas in the region known as Bigg's killer whales, which feed primarily on marine mammals. Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Parks Canada, in consultation with Transport Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada, completed an assessment of the southern resident population last year, finding the population had dwindled to 73, with only 23 breeding females. The Center for Whale Research also said the population had dipped to 73 in its July 1, 2024, census following the death of two adult male orcas. Weiss said the research is another example of why it is important to protect the population. "When we're talking about conserving this population, we're not talking just about conserving 73 individual animals. We're talking about conserving a unique culture with unique behaviours that if we lost them, we'd never see again," he said. "This is just another example of the fact that these separate populations of whales are not interchangeable, they're not fungible. They are special and losing them is a loss for the world. It's a loss of something unique from the world."
CTV News
3 days ago
- Science
- CTV News
Orcas use kelp tools to groom and bond off B.C.'s coast, study suggests
Members of the southern resident killer whales in the Salish Sea off of B.C.'s coast are seen in this handout photo, rubbing a piece of kelp between their bodies. Researchers hypothesize that the animals use the tool for both grooming and social purposes. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout — Center for Whale Research, NMFS NOAA Permit 27038 (Mandatory Credit) In pricey spas, kelp facials and body wraps can set the esthetically inclined human back hundreds of dollars. But in the Salish Sea off British Columbia, southern resident killer whales are also using the sea plants for what scientists suspect are grooming purposes. Researchers who have spent years studying the endangered whales say higher quality drones helped them spot the whales regularly breaking off pieces of kelp to use as a tool, pressed between their bodies. Michael Weiss, chair of the Center for Whale Research, based in Washington state, said the whales were spotted on video last summer rubbing bull kelp between their bodies. Research in the new edition of the journal Current Biology hypothesizes both hygienic and social purposes. 'Other researchers have seen dolphins and whales using elements of their environment, or objects, to groom themselves. They'll rub themselves on rocks and sand and kelp to maintain their skin surface,' said Weiss, lead author of the study. 'And we also have seen whales and dolphins rub on each other to potentially remove parasites and dead skin.' But the southern residents' use of both types of behaviour at once has not been seen in other whales, Weiss said. 'We haven't seen any reports of whales combining those two things and using an object to enhance this kind of social touch.' The researchers observed the behaviour in southern residents across all social groups, both sexes, and all age classes. Weiss said other mammals, including primates, do use tools and groom each other, but the whales' situation is distinct, in part because two animals are getting shared benefits. 'We don't have one whale with a stick scratching the other one. We have two whales with kelp between them simultaneously rubbing it against each other. And that's really unique,' he said. He said primates rarely use grooming tools unless given them by humans. 'This kind of widespread, common behaviour in the population — everyone seems to be doing it in the southern residents, they're doing it all the time — there's not really any examples of anything like that, where it's become commonplace in social interactions to use a tool to enhance that interaction,' he said. 'So I think it's really special and it's a brand new context for tool use in marine mammals. It's not something we've seen marine mammals use tools for before.' Weiss said the next steps for researchers are seeing how the skill is learned, understanding more about the whales' skin conditions, and taking a closer look at the social bonds the use of the kelp helps create. 'Seeing if whales who perform this behaviour together are more likely to then co-operate in other ways later. Are they more likely to chase fish together? Are they more likely to share food with one another, or do other social interactions?' he said. The southern resident killer whales are a critically endangered, with fewer than 80 individuals left in the Pacific Northwest. Weiss said the research is another example of why it is important to protect the population. 'When we're talking about conserving this population, we're not talking just about conserving 73 individual animals. We're talking about conserving a unique culture with unique behaviours that if we lost them, we'd never see again,' he said. 'This is just another example of the fact that these separate populations of whales are not interchangeable, they're not fungible. They are special and losing them is a loss for the world. It's a loss of something unique from the world.' This report by Ashley Joannou, The Canadian Press was first published June 23, 2025.
