In a surprising discovery, a new study reveals that among seven species of baleen whales, only the humpback is capable of the high-performance turns required for its signature bubble-net feeding strategy. The research, led by recent University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa graduate Cameron Nemeth, shows humpbacks use their unique pectoral flippers to achieve this maneuver, shedding new light on the biomechanics of this iconic feeding strategy.
Nemeth just earned his bachelor of science degree in marine biology, and conducted this research as part of a larger project at UH Mānoa Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB) Marine Mammal Research Program (MMRP ). The study focuses on solitary bubble-net feeding, a complex foraging strategy where whales release bubbles in a ring to corral prey. By combining data from drones and non-invasive suction-cup tags, Nemeth and his team were able to accurately quantify the turning performance required for this maneuver.
"The fact that humpback whales' pectoral flippers enhance their maneuverability wasn't the most surprising part of our study, as there have been previous studies on the morphology of these flippers," said Nemeth. "However, it was shocking to discover that amongst thousands of turns from a variety of behavioral states, no other species of whale examined were achieving the turning performance required to create a bubble-net."
Highly efficient pectoral flippers
The research indicates that the humpback whale's large pectoral flippers can generate nearly half of the force needed to turn, making them highly efficient at this feeding strategy. Other whale species, even if physically capable of similar turns, would need to expend significantly more energy, likely making the strategy energetically impractical. Humpbacks' special body shape allows them to successfully hunt smaller or scattered groups of prey.
"This is a great example of a collaborative research project that took advantage of datasets from 28 different research organizations across six countries," said Lars Bejder, research professor at HIMB, principle investigator of MMRP, and co-author of the study. "These sorts of initiatives are able to address questions that otherwise would be very difficult to answer."
This research is significant for Hawaiʻi, as humpback whales fast while in the islands, relying on the energy reserves they build up on Alaskan feeding grounds. Understanding the efficiency of their foraging techniques is crucial for assessing their overall health and energetic needs, which ultimately impacts their stay in Hawaiian waters.
Ongoing research, new Hawaiian language precedent
Nemeth led this large-scale project during his final semester as an undergraduate student at UH Mānoa. He will be continuing his research with the MMRP, transitioning to a PhD program in fall 2026 to lead the lab's ongoing humpback whale project in Maui.
In a move to increase the availability of scientific literature in the Hawaiian language, Nemeth also worked with the journal to include a Hawaiian-language abstract for the paper. He translated the abstract himself and worked with a Hawaiian language professor to edit the text, setting a precedent for future publications from the lab.
Funding for this study was provided by UH Mānoa, the Omidyar Ohana Foundation, and the Lindblad Expedition-National Geographic Fund. Equipment was provided through a Defense University Research Instrumentation award from the U.S. Department of Defense.
