The waters around Hawaiʻi are said to be nutrient-poor compared to other places.
Research is underway that looks at the health of migratory whales. Specifically, what can be learned from whale poop.
Ryan Bos is the lead author of a new preprint looking at whale gut microbiomes in California and Hawaiʻi. The research has not yet been peer reviewed, but it shows a stark difference between the gut health of whales feeding off the coast of California and those in Hawaiʻi — where, for many years, researchers thought they did not eat.
HPR spoke to Bos about his team's new research.
To read the study, click here.
This interview aired on The Conversation on May 7, 2025. The Conversation airs weekdays at 11 a.m.
