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, according to a news release from the University of Hawai‘i.
Nemeth, who recently earned his bachelor of science degree in marine biology, conducted this research as part of a larger project at UH Mānoa Hawai’i Institute of Marine Biology Marine Mammal Research Program. 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.
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…