A study recently published in the journal Marine Mammal Science unveiled a behavior exhibited by humpback whales: the creation of bubble rings during interactions with humans. Researchers analyzed 12 episodes involving 11 different humpback whales, documenting a total of 39 bubble rings produced during these encounters. According to BBC News, no instances of bubble ring production were observed outside of human interactions.
This was the first time such behavior was documented, revealing that humpback whales blow bubble rings towards humans, resembling smoke rings and exhibiting their playful nature. The whales appeared to direct these bubbles toward humans in a manner that suggested curiosity or an attempt to communicate.
"We've now located a dozen whales from populations around the world, the majority of which have voluntarily approached boats and swimmers blowing bubble rings during these episodes of curious behavior," said Jodi Frediani, co-lead author and marine wildlife photographer, according to BBC News.
The study highlighted the precision with which humpback whales create these rings. The bubble rings were described as "madly spinning doughnut-shaped clouds that look like giant smoke rings about three feet in diameter that rise rapidly to the surface," as noted by biologist Roger Payne.
Dr. Fred Sharpe, co-lead author and a board member of the Alaska Whale Foundation, stated, "Humpback whales live in complex societies, are acoustically diverse, use bubble tools and assist other species being harassed by predators." Sharpe added, "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 whales exhibited relaxed and inquisitive behavior, often approaching boats and swimmers. In eight of the episodes, the bubble ring-blowing whales actually came closer to the boats or swimmers. The researchers reported no signs of aggression or annoyance, with the whales displaying behaviors such as slow approaches, gentle turns, and spy hopping—lifting their heads out of the water to observe.
The team meticulously analyzed the context of each episode using photographs, videos, and whale identification databases, with visual material captured from various perspectives: underwater, from boats, drones, and airplanes. They found that all the ring episodes showed the humpback whales were either stationary or moving very slowly forward, and they lingered rather than just passing by.
Humpback whales are known for their sophisticated hunting techniques, including the use of bubble nets to corral prey like juvenile salmon and krill. They typically create underwater curtains of bubbles to trap smaller animals. However, the bubble rings observed in this study were not associated with feeding or mating behaviors.
The researchers suggest that the behavior of producing bubble rings during interactions with humans may represent play or communication, arising in situations of curiosity and interaction. "This behavior could represent play or communication," Sharpe said, "and humpback whales don't need a reason to connect; they just do," according to ABC News.
This discovery adds a new dimension to our understanding of the intelligence of these marine creatures, as it suggests that humpback whales may be using bubble rings as a form of interspecies interaction and communication. The researchers are interested in how humpback whales can change the structure of bubble rings with their blowholes and what gestures they present when interacting with humans.
This study is part of a broader effort by the WhaleSETI team, which studies intelligent behavior in non-human species, including the communicative mechanisms of humpback whales, to refine the search for life beyond Earth. Understanding these mechanisms may provide vital clues on how to communicate with non-human intelligences, including potential extraterrestrial beings.
Dr. Laurance Doyle from the SETI Institute stated, "The fundamental idea is that extraterrestrial intelligence and life will be interested in making contact and will therefore deliberately address human recipients." He emphasized the importance of understanding non-human communication.
The researchers acknowledge that further observation will be key to understanding whether these bubbling manifestations are part of a developing interspecies language. "Whatever the reason for their creation, maintaining vigilance in the field will help elucidate the frequency and function of bubble rings," they write.
The preparation of this article relied on a news-analysis system.