Learning From Whales: Oxygen, Ecosystems & Human Health (2025-2026)
Hypoxia — when tissues are deprived of adequate oxygen — is a major challenge in human health, contributing to conditions such as heart attack, stroke, COVID-19 and cancer. While human organs are highly sensitive to oxygen deprivation, deep-diving whales routinely tolerate extreme hypoxia during prolonged dives that can last several hours. Understanding the biological mechanisms behind this remarkable tolerance may provide insights for developing new medical approaches to protect human tissues during hypoxic events.
This multiyear project team has been investigating the cellular, molecular and behavioral adaptations that enable whales to withstand low-oxygen conditions. Building on work from previous teams identifying mitochondrial adaptations and gene expression pathways associated with hypoxia tolerance, the 2025-2026 team sought to link molecular mechanisms with whole-animal behavioral responses. Students worked in subteams focused on behavioral analysis, molecular biology and science communication.
The behavioral subteam analyzed data from digital acoustic tags deployed on deep-diving whale species, including individuals exposed to naval sonar. By examining movement, exertion and breathing patterns before and after deep dives, the team explored how behavioral responses may interact with physiological resilience to hypoxia.
In parallel, the molecular subteam examined how acute and chronic stress influence metabolic pathways associated with hypoxia tolerance, using cellular and molecular analyses to compare marine mammal adaptations with those observed in humans. These efforts contributed to the completion of a research manuscript examining molecular pathways associated with hypoxia resilience.
A science communication subteam expanded the project’s outreach by developing resources to share research findings with broader audiences. Their work included producing a methods video documenting the process of collecting marine mammal samples and establishing cell lines, updating the project website and developing a three-part podcast series on whale hypoxia resilience and its relevance to human health.
Together, these efforts integrated molecular biology, behavioral ecology and science communication to advance understanding of hypoxia tolerance and its potential biomedical applications.
Timing
Fall 2025 – Spring 2026
Team Outputs
Learning From Whales: Investigating Marine Mammal Hypoxia Tolerance Across Biological Scales (Poster presentation at the Fortin Foundation Bass Connections Showcase, April 15, 2026)
Learning From Whales (Team profile)
Analysis of DTAG behavioral data on deep-diving whale exertion and breathing patterns
Molecular analysis of metabolic pathways related to hypoxia resilience in marine mammals
Submitted manuscript on molecular mechanisms of hypoxia tolerance
Science communication website on whale hypoxia research
Methods video documenting marine mammal sample collection and cell line development
Podcast series on whale hypoxia resilience and human health
Team newsletters communicating research progress and findings
See earlier related team, Learning From Whales: Oxygen, Ecosystems and Human Health (2024-2025)