New study by UNCW researchers reveals Humpback whales have blurry vision

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) –Despite their huge size and large eyes, humpback whales may not see the ocean as clearly as we once thought.

A study from UNCW and Duke University reveals that humpback whales have limited vision. This raises questions about how they interact with their environment and respond to human activities.

The study, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, shows that humpbacks’ vision can only detect large shapes from a distance. Their resolution is just 3.95 cycles per degree (CPD). To see small details, they must be within three to four body lengths.

Lori Schweikert, assistant professor at UNCW, explains how this research improves our understanding of whale behavior:

“Now we understand perceptually what their color vision might be from previous studies. From this study, we now understand the size of ropes at a given distance that they can resolve. And now the question is, what is the kind of gear they are getting entangled in, and does that match up with how they perceive the world?”

Researchers used models to simulate how whales see their surroundings. These models included potential threats, like fishing gear. The study suggests that humpbacks can only detect threats such as ropes or nets when they are close.

Jacob Bolin, a 2023 UNCW graduate, started the project as his honors thesis. Graduate student Vanessa Moreno mentored Bolin and co-authored the study.

The whale eye used in the research came from a whale that stranded in Thorofare Bay, North Carolina, over a decade ago. The specimen was collected by William McLellan and archived by UNCW’s Marine Mammal Stranding Program.

Schweikert believes the findings could help improve conservation efforts. By better understanding how whales see, researchers can design safer fishing gear.