Humpback Whales in Hot Water: The Fight for Food in a Warming World

Future climate change may threaten the krill-based diet of southern hemisphere humpback whales, impacting migration and survival.

Researchers at Griffith University have predicted that the diets of humpback whales in the southern hemisphere could be significantly impacted by future climate change. The study, led by Dr Jasmin Groß during her PhD at the Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, analyzes the dietary habits of these marine giants and the challenges they might face.

Study Details
In their study, the researchers collected humpback whale blubber and skin samples in August and September 2019 in or near their respective breeding grounds off Brazil, Western and Eastern Australia, New Caledonia, and Colombia. They also collected krill samples from feeding grounds onboard three different vessels between January and March 2019.