As whale season begins later than usual for Australia, new University of Wollongong research has revealed humpback whales may be capable of withstanding climate change more than previously thought.
The paper, co-authored by Dr Katharina J. Peters and researchers from seven other countries, claims the diet of southern humpback whales is likely more varied than the current scientific consensus suggests.
Previously, researchers believed Southern Humpback whales fed only on krill, however, using isotope modelling, the researchers determined the whales also fed on various fish species.
Adjacent research suggests humpbacks feed during migration to a limited extent, while traditionally it has been thought they exclusively eat at designated feeding grounds.
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