1
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Dunlop R, Noad M. Male humpback whales switch to singing in the presence of seismic air guns. Commun Biol 2024; 7:1232. [PMID: 39354209 PMCID: PMC11445414 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06908-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2024] [Indexed: 10/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Ocean noise produced by seismic exploration has been implicated in causing changes in baleen whale hearing, physiology, feeding, breeding, and migratory behaviours. Here, we observed changes in the mating tactics of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) during a one-hour exposure to nearby seismic air guns. Males employ a conditional mating strategy where they switch between singing and non-singing tactics. Singing is presumably an advertisement signal, while non-singing behaviours include seeking out and joining with females as well as forming competitive groups. During periods of active air guns, the number of male singing whales increased, and singers were more likely to be observed joining females. Conversely, non-singing males were less likely to engage in joining interactions suggesting that active air guns caused a switch in male breeding tactics. Though we cannot translate these effects into changes in breeding success, this indicates that seismic exploration has the potential to alter breeding behaviours in baleen whales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Dunlop
- School of the Environment, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
| | - Michael Noad
- School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD, Australia
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2
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Kügler A, Lammers MO, Pack AA, Tenorio-Hallé L, Thode AM. Diel spatio-temporal patterns of humpback whale singing on a high-density breeding ground. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 11:230279. [PMID: 38269074 PMCID: PMC10805604 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.230279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Humpback whale song chorusing dominates the marine soundscape in Hawai'i during winter months, yet little is known about spatio-temporal habitat use patterns of singers. We analysed passive acoustic monitoring data from five sites off Maui and found that ambient noise levels associated with song chorusing decreased during daytime hours nearshore but increased offshore. To resolve whether these changes reflect a diel offshore-onshore movement or a temporal difference in singing activity, data from 71 concurrently conducted land-based theodolite surveys were analysed. Non-calf pods (n = 3082), presumably including the majority of singers, were found further offshore with increasing time of the day. Separately, we acoustically localized 217 nearshore singers using vector-sensors. During the day, distances to shore and minimum distances among singers increased, and singers switched more between being stationary and singing while travelling. Together, these findings suggest that the observed diel trends in humpback whale chorusing off Maui represent a pattern of active onshore-offshore movement of singers. We hypothesize that this may result from singers attempting to reduce intraspecific acoustic masking when densities are high nearshore and avoidance of a loud, non-humpback, biological evening chorus offshore, creating a dynamic of movement of singers aimed at increasing the efficiency of their acoustic display.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anke Kügler
- University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, USA
- Bioacoustics and Behavioral Ecology Lab, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA
- Oceanwide Science Institute, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Marc O. Lammers
- Oceanwide Science Institute, Honolulu, HI, USA
- Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, Kīhei, HI, USA
| | - Adam A. Pack
- University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, Hilo, HI, USA
- The Dolphin Institute, Hilo, HI, USA
| | - Ludovic Tenorio-Hallé
- Marine Physical Laboratory, Scripps Institute of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Aaron M. Thode
- Marine Physical Laboratory, Scripps Institute of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
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3
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Lamoni L, Garland EC, Allen JA, Coxon J, Noad MJ, Rendell L. Variability in humpback whale songs reveals how individuals can be distinctive when sharing a complex vocal display. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2023; 153:2238. [PMID: 37092914 DOI: 10.1121/10.0017602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Individually distinctive acoustic signals in animal vocal communication are taxonomically widespread, however, the investigation of these signal types in marine mammals has focused only on a few species. Humpback whale songs are a stereotyped, hierarchically structured vocal display performed by males, and hence thought to be sexually selected. Within a population, whales conform to a common version of the song despite the song constantly evolving. While humpback songs have been studied extensively at the population level, individual level variation has been rarely described, with inconclusive results. Here, we quantified inter- and intra-individual variability at different levels in the song hierarchy using songs from 25 singers across two song types from the eastern Australian population song of 2002 (12 singers), and the revolutionary song introduced in 2003 (13 singers). Inter-individual variability was found heterogeneously across all hierarchical levels of the song structure. In addition, distinct and individually specific patterns of song production were consistently recorded across song levels, with clear structural differences between the two song types. These results suggest that within the constraints of song conformity, males can produce individually distinctive patterns that could function as an advertisement to females to convey individual qualities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Lamoni
- Centre for Social Learning and Cognitive Evolution/Sea Mammal Research Unit, School of Biology, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews KY16 9TH, United Kingdom
| | - Ellen C Garland
- Centre for Social Learning and Cognitive Evolution/Sea Mammal Research Unit, School of Biology, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews KY16 9TH, United Kingdom
| | - Jenny A Allen
- Cetacean Ecology and Acoustics Laboratories, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland 4343, Australia
| | - Jennifer Coxon
- Centre for Social Learning and Cognitive Evolution/Sea Mammal Research Unit, School of Biology, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews KY16 9TH, United Kingdom
| | - Michael J Noad
- Cetacean Ecology and Acoustics Laboratories, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland 4343, Australia
| | - Luke Rendell
- Centre for Social Learning and Cognitive Evolution/Sea Mammal Research Unit, School of Biology, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews KY16 9TH, United Kingdom
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4
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Post-whaling shift in mating tactics in male humpback whales. Commun Biol 2023; 6:162. [PMID: 36797323 PMCID: PMC9935900 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04509-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have shown behavioural plasticity in mating strategies can increase a population's ability to cope with anthropogenic impacts. The eastern Australian humpback whale population was whaled almost to extinction in the 1960s (~200 whales) and has recovered to pre-whaling numbers (>20,000 whales). Using an 18-year dataset, where the population increased from approximately 3,700 to 27,000 whales, we found that as male density increased over time, the use of mating tactics shifted towards more males engaging in non-singing physical competition over singing. Singing was the more successful tactic in earlier post-whaling years whereas non-singing behaviour was the more successful tactic in later years. Together, our study uncovers how changes in both local, and population-level male density resulted in a shift in the frequency, and fitness pay-off, of alternative mating tactics in a wild animal. This individual-level plasticity in male humpback whale mating tactics likely contributed to minimising their risk of extinction following a dramatic change in their social landscape due to whaling.
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5
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Li Y, Wang H, Fan J, Geng Y. A novel Q-learning algorithm based on improved whale optimization algorithm for path planning. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0279438. [PMID: 36574399 PMCID: PMC9794100 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0279438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Q-learning is a classical reinforcement learning algorithm and one of the most important methods of mobile robot path planning without a prior environmental model. Nevertheless, Q-learning is too simple when initializing Q-table and wastes too much time in the exploration process, causing a slow convergence speed. This paper proposes a new Q-learning algorithm called the Paired Whale Optimization Q-learning Algorithm (PWOQLA) which includes four improvements. Firstly, to accelerate the convergence speed of Q-learning, a whale optimization algorithm is used to initialize the values of a Q-table. Before the exploration process, a Q-table which contains previous experience is learned to improve algorithm efficiency. Secondly, to improve the local exploitation capability of the whale optimization algorithm, a paired whale optimization algorithm is proposed in combination with a pairing strategy to speed up the search for prey. Thirdly, to improve the exploration efficiency of Q-learning and reduce the number of useless explorations, a new selective exploration strategy is introduced which considers the relationship between current position and target position. Fourthly, in order to balance the exploration and exploitation capabilities of Q-learning so that it focuses on exploration in the early stage and on exploitation in the later stage, a nonlinear function is designed which changes the value of ε in ε-greedy Q-learning dynamically based on the number of iterations. Comparing the performance of PWOQLA with other path planning algorithms, experimental results demonstrate that PWOQLA achieves a higher level of accuracy and a faster convergence speed than existing counterparts in mobile robot path planning. The code will be released at https://github.com/wanghanyu0526/improveQL.git.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Li
- College of Computer Science and Technology, Jilin University, Changchun, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Symbolic Computation and Knowledge Engineering of Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hanyu Wang
- College of Computer Science and Technology, Jilin University, Changchun, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Symbolic Computation and Knowledge Engineering of Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, People’s Republic of China
- * E-mail:
| | - Jiahao Fan
- College of Computer Science, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yanyu Geng
- College of Computer Science and Technology, Jilin University, Changchun, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Symbolic Computation and Knowledge Engineering of Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, People’s Republic of China
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6
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Girola E, Dunlop RA, Noad MJ. Singing in a noisy ocean: vocal plasticity in male humpback whales. BIOACOUSTICS 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/09524622.2022.2122560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- E. Girola
- Cetacean Ecology and Acoustics Laboratory, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Australia
| | - R. A. Dunlop
- Cetacean Ecology and Acoustics Laboratory, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | - M. J. Noad
- Cetacean Ecology and Acoustics Laboratory, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Australia
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7
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Kowarski K, Cerchio S, Whitehead H, Cholewiak D, Moors-Murphy H. Seasonal song ontogeny in western North Atlantic humpback whales: drawing parallels with songbirds. BIOACOUSTICS 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/09524622.2022.2122561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Katie Kowarski
- JASCO Applied Sciences, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | | | - Hal Whitehead
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | | | - Hilary Moors-Murphy
- Fisheries and Oceans, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
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8
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Cognitive control of song production by humpback whales. Anim Cogn 2022; 25:1133-1149. [PMID: 36058997 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-022-01675-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Singing humpback whales are highly versatile vocalizers, producing complex sequences of sounds that they vary throughout adulthood. Past analyses of humpback whale song have emphasized yearly variations in structural features of songs made collectively by singers within a population with comparatively little attention given to the ways that individual singers vary consecutive songs. As a result, many researchers describe singing by humpback whales as a process in which singers produce sequences of repeating sound patterns. Here, we show that such characterizations misrepresent the degree to which humpback whales flexibly and dynamically control the production of sounds and sound patterns within song sessions. Singers recorded off the coast of Hawaii continuously morphed units along multiple acoustic dimensions, with the degree and direction of morphing varying across parallel streams of successive units. Individual singers also produced multiple phrase variants (structurally similar, but acoustically distinctive sequences) within song sessions. The precision with which individual singers maintained some acoustic properties of phrases and morphing trajectories while flexibly changing others suggests that singing humpback whales actively select and adjust acoustic elements of their songs in real time rather than simply repeating stereotyped sound patterns within song sessions.
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9
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Context-dependent and seasonal fluctuation in bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) vocalizations. Anim Cogn 2022; 25:1381-1392. [PMID: 35394264 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-022-01620-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
A fundamental question in animal behaviour is the role of vocal communication in the regulation of social interactions in species that organise themselves into social groups. Context dependence and seasonality in vocalizations are present in the communication of many species, although very little research has addressed this dependence in marine mammals. The study presented here examined variations in the rate at which free-ranging dyads of bottlenose dolphins emit social-signals in an effort to better understand the relationship between vocal communication and social context. The results demonstrate that changes in the social-signal production in bottlenose dolphins are related to the sex of the partner, mating season and social affiliation between the components of the dyad. In a context of foraging behaviour on the same feeding ground, mixed (male-female) dyads were found to emit more pulsed burst sounds during the mating season. Another relevant aspect of the study seems to be the greater production of agonistic social-signals in the dyads formed by individuals with a lower degree of social affiliation. Overall, this study confirms a clear relationship between dyad composition and context-specific social-signals that could reflect the motivational state of individuals linked to seasonal changes in vocal behaviour.
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10
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Grzywacz NM, Aleem H. Does Amount of Information Support Aesthetic Values? Front Neurosci 2022; 16:805658. [PMID: 35392414 PMCID: PMC8982361 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.805658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Obtaining information from the world is important for survival. The brain, therefore, has special mechanisms to extract as much information as possible from sensory stimuli. Hence, given its importance, the amount of available information may underlie aesthetic values. Such information-based aesthetic values would be significant because they would compete with others to drive decision-making. In this article, we ask, "What is the evidence that amount of information support aesthetic values?" An important concept in the measurement of informational volume is entropy. Research on aesthetic values has thus used Shannon entropy to evaluate the contribution of quantity of information. We review here the concepts of information and aesthetic values, and research on the visual and auditory systems to probe whether the brain uses entropy or other relevant measures, specially, Fisher information, in aesthetic decisions. We conclude that information measures contribute to these decisions in two ways: first, the absolute quantity of information can modulate aesthetic preferences for certain sensory patterns. However, the preference for volume of information is highly individualized, with information-measures competing with organizing principles, such as rhythm and symmetry. In addition, people tend to be resistant to too much entropy, but not necessarily, high amounts of Fisher information. We show that this resistance may stem in part from the distribution of amount of information in natural sensory stimuli. Second, the measurement of entropic-like quantities over time reveal that they can modulate aesthetic decisions by varying degrees of surprise given temporally integrated expectations. We propose that amount of information underpins complex aesthetic values, possibly informing the brain on the allocation of resources or the situational appropriateness of some cognitive models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norberto M. Grzywacz
- Department of Psychology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
- Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Hassan Aleem
- Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States
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11
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Garland EC, Garrigue C, Noad MJ. When does cultural evolution become cumulative culture? A case study of humpback whale song. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20200313. [PMID: 34894734 PMCID: PMC8666910 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Culture presents a second inheritance system by which innovations can be transmitted between generations and among individuals. Some vocal behaviours present compelling examples of cultural evolution. Where modifications accumulate over time, such a process can become cumulative cultural evolution. The existence of cumulative cultural evolution in non-human animals is controversial. When physical products of such a process do not exist, modifications may not be clearly visible over time. Here, we investigate whether the constantly evolving songs of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) are indicative of cumulative cultural evolution. Using nine years of song data recorded from the New Caledonian humpback whale population, we quantified song evolution and complexity, and formally evaluated this process in light of criteria for cumulative cultural evolution. Song accumulates changes shown by an increase in complexity, but this process is punctuated by rapid loss of song material. While such changes tentatively satisfy the core criteria for cumulative cultural evolution, this claim hinges on the assumption that novel songs are preferred by females. While parsimonious, until such time as studies can link fitness benefits (reproductive success) to individual singers, any claims that humpback whale song evolution represents a form of cumulative cultural evolution may remain open to interpretation. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'The emergence of collective knowledge and cumulative culture in animals, humans and machines'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen C. Garland
- Centre for Social Learning and Cognitive Evolution, and Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, School of Biology, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Fife KY16 8LB, UK
| | - Claire Garrigue
- UMR ENTROPIE, (IRD, Université de La Réunion, Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, IFREMER, CNRS, Laboratoire d'Excellence – CORAIL), 98848 Nouméa, New Caledonia
- Opération Cétacés, 98802 Nouméa, New Caledonia
| | - Michael J. Noad
- Cetacean Ecology and Acoustics Laboratory, School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland 4343, Australia
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12
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Carouso-Peck S, Goldstein MH, Fitch WT. The many functions of vocal learning. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2021; 376:20200235. [PMID: 34482721 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The capacity to learn novel vocalizations has evolved convergently in a wide range of species. Courtship songs of male birds or whales are often treated as prototypical examples, implying a sexually selected context for the evolution of this ability. However, functions of learned vocalizations in different species are far more diverse than courtship, spanning a range of socio-positive contexts from individual identification, social cohesion, or advertising pair bonds, as well as agonistic contexts such as territorial defence, deceptive alarm calling or luring prey. Here, we survey the diverse usages and proposed functions of learned novel signals, to build a framework for considering the evolution of vocal learning capacities that extends beyond sexual selection. For each function that can be identified for learned signals, we provide examples of species using unlearned signals to accomplish the same goals. We use such comparisons to generate hypotheses concerning when vocal learning is adaptive, given a particular suite of socio-ecological traits. Finally, we identify areas of uncertainty where improved understanding would allow us to better test these hypotheses. Considering the broad range of potential functions of vocal learning will yield a richer appreciation of its evolution than a narrow focus on a few prototypical species. This article is part of the theme issue 'Vocal learning in animals and humans'.
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13
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Kun Á. The major evolutionary transitions and codes of life. Biosystems 2021; 210:104548. [PMID: 34547424 DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2021.104548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Major evolutionary transitions as well as the evolution of codes of life are key elements in macroevolution which are characterized by increase in complexity Major evolutionary transitions ensues by a transition in individuality and by the evolution of a novel mode of using, transmitting or storing information. Here is where codes of life enter the picture: they are arbitrary mappings between different (mostly) molecular species. This flexibility allows information to be employed in a variety of ways, which can fuel evolutionary innovation. The collation of the list of major evolutionary transitions and the list of codes of life show a clear pattern: codes evolved prior to a major evolutionary transition and then played roles in the transition and/or in the transformation of the new individual. The evolution of a new code of life is in itself not a major evolutionary transition but allow major evolutionary transitions to happen. This could help us to identify new organic codes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ádám Kun
- Parmenides Center for the Conceptual Foundations of Science, Parmenides Foundation, Kirchplatz 1, D-82049, Pullach, Germany; Institute of Evolution, Centre for Ecological Research, Konkoly-Thege Miklós út 29-33, H-1121, Budapest, Hungary; MTA-ELTE Theoretical Biology and Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, H-1117, Budapest, Hungary; Institute for Advanced Studies Kőszeg, Chernel utca 14, H-9730, Kőszeg, Hungary; Department of Plant Systematics, Ecology and Theoretical Biology, Eötvös University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, H-1117, Budapest, Hungary.
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14
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Humpback whale song recordings suggest common feeding ground occupation by multiple populations. Sci Rep 2021; 11:18806. [PMID: 34552129 PMCID: PMC8458523 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-98295-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Humpback whale males are known to sing on their low-latitude breeding grounds, but it is well established that songs are also commonly produced ‘off-season’ on the feeding grounds or during migration. This opens exciting opportunities to investigate migratory aggregations, study humpback whale behavioral plasticity and potentially even assign individual singers to specific breeding grounds. In this study, we analyzed passive acoustic data from 13 recording positions and multiple years (2011–2018) within the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean (ASSO). Humpback whale song was detected at nine recording positions in five years. Most songs were recorded in May, austral fall, coinciding with the rapid increase in sea ice concentration at most recording positions. The spatio-temporal pattern in humpback whale singing activity on Southern Ocean feeding grounds is most likely shaped by local prey availability and humpback whale migratory strategies. Furthermore, the comparative analyses of song structures clearly show a differentiation of two song groups, of which one was solely recorded at the western edge of the ASSO and the other song group was recorded throughout the ASSO. This new finding suggests a common feeding ground occupation by multiple humpback whale populations in the ASSO, allowing for cultural and potentially even genetic exchange among populations.
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15
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Kowarski K, Cerchio S, Whitehead H, Moors-Murphy H. Where, when, and why do western North Atlantic humpback whales begin to sing? BIOACOUSTICS 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/09524622.2021.1972838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Katie Kowarski
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
- JASCO Applied Sciences, Dartmouth, Canada
| | | | - Hal Whitehead
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
| | - Hilary Moors-Murphy
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Dartmouth, Canada
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16
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Mercado E, Perazio CE. All units are equal in humpback whale songs, but some are more equal than others. Anim Cogn 2021; 25:149-177. [PMID: 34363127 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-021-01539-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Flexible production and perception of vocalizations is linked to an impressive array of cognitive capacities including language acquisition by humans, song learning by birds, biosonar in bats, and vocal imitation by cetaceans. Here, we characterize a portion of the repertoire of one of the most impressive vocalizers in nature: the humpback whale. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of sounds (units) produced by humpback whales revealed that singers gradually morphed streams of units along multiple acoustic dimensions within songs, maintaining the continuity of spectral content across subjectively dissimilar unit "types." Singers consistently produced some unit forms more frequently and intensely than others, suggesting that units are functionally heterogeneous. The precision with which singing humpback whales continuously adjusted the acoustic characteristics of units shows that they possess exquisite vocal control mechanisms and vocal flexibility beyond what is seen in most animals other than humans. The gradual morphing of units within songs that we observed is inconsistent with past claims that humpback whales construct songs from a fixed repertoire of discrete unit types. These findings challenge the results of past studies based on fixed-unit classification methods and argue for the development of new metrics for characterizing the graded structure of units. The specific vocal variations that singers produced suggest that humpback whale songs are unlikely to provide detailed information about a singer's reproductive fitness, but can reveal the precise locations and movements of singers from long distances and may enhance the effectiveness of units as sonar signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Mercado
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Park Hall, Buffalo, NY, 14260, USA.
| | - Christina E Perazio
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Park Hall, Buffalo, NY, 14260, USA.,School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, University of New England, Biddeford, ME, USA
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17
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Dunlop RA, Noad MJ. The eavesdropping risk of conspicuous sexual signaling in humpback whales. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-021-03048-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
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18
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Abstract
Abstract
During migration, humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) adult females and their calves use acoustic calling to help maintain contact. The signals produced by these pairs, however, may unintentionally attract nearby breeding males, which can result in interactions that have negative physical and physiological effects on the calf. Therefore, maternal females must choose the vocal and/or behavioral strategy that most effectively balances intra-pair communication with male avoidance. Here, we analyzed differences in adult female-calf vocal activity and movement behavior according to the presence of, and distance to, singing whales and other groups likely to contain males. The results of this study found that these pairs make only minimal changes to their vocal behavior in response to nearby males, suggesting that they have instead evolved calls that are naturally difficult to detect (i.e., produced at significantly lower rates and acoustic levels than other whale groups, resulting in a restricted active space). In addition, they maintain spatial separation from nearby groups by moving to shallower, inshore waters, increasing their proportion of time spent near the surface, and favoring a direct migratory course. This combination of cryptic strategies balances avoidance of unwanted conspecific interaction with the necessity of continued contact between maternal female humpback whales and their calves.
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Brooks DR, Nocera JJ. Using autonomous recording units and change-point analysis to determine reproductive activity in an aerial insectivore. BIOACOUSTICS 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/09524622.2021.1921617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Delaney R. Brooks
- Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, Canada
| | - Joseph J. Nocera
- Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, Canada
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20
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Warren VE, Constantine R, Noad M, Garrigue C, Garland EC. Migratory insights from singing humpback whales recorded around central New Zealand. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2020; 7:201084. [PMID: 33391798 PMCID: PMC7735341 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.201084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The migration routes of wide-ranging species can be difficult to study, particularly at sea. In the western South Pacific, migratory routes of humpback whales between breeding and feeding areas are unclear. Male humpback whales sing a population-specific song, which can be used to match singers on migration to a breeding population. To investigate migratory routes and breeding area connections, passive acoustic recorders were deployed in the central New Zealand migratory corridor (2016); recorded humpback whale song was compared to song from the closest breeding populations of East Australia and New Caledonia (2015-2017). Singing northbound whales migrated past New Zealand from June to August via the east coast of the South Island and Cook Strait. Few song detections were made along the east coast of the North Island. New Zealand song matched New Caledonia song, suggesting a migratory destination, but connectivity to East Australia could not be ruled out. Two song types were present in New Zealand, illustrating the potential for easterly song transmission from East Australia to New Caledonia in this shared migratory corridor. This study enhances our understanding of western South Pacific humpback whale breeding population connectivity, and provides novel insights into the dynamic transmission of song culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria E. Warren
- Institute of Marine Science, Leigh Marine Laboratory, University of Auckland, 160 Goat Island Road, Leigh 0985, New Zealand
- National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, 301 Evans Bay Parade, Hataitai, Wellington 6021, New Zealand
- Author for correspondence: Victoria E. Warren e-mail:
| | - Rochelle Constantine
- Institute of Marine Science, Leigh Marine Laboratory, University of Auckland, 160 Goat Island Road, Leigh 0985, New Zealand
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, 3A Symonds Street, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Michael Noad
- Cetacean Ecology and Acoustics Laboratories, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Australia
| | - Claire Garrigue
- UMR Entropie (IRD, Université de La Réunion, Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, IFREMER, CNRS) BP A5, 98848 Nouméa, New Caledonia
- Opération Cétacés, 98802 Noumea, New Caledonia
| | - Ellen C. Garland
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, Fife KY16 8LB, UK
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21
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Garland EC, McGregor PK. Cultural Transmission, Evolution, and Revolution in Vocal Displays: Insights From Bird and Whale Song. Front Psychol 2020; 11:544929. [PMID: 33132953 PMCID: PMC7550662 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.544929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Culture, defined as shared behavior or information within a community acquired through some form of social learning from conspecifics, is now suggested to act as a second inheritance system. Cultural processes are important in a wide variety of vertebrate species. Birdsong provides a classic example of cultural processes: cultural transmission, where changes in a shared song are learned from surrounding conspecifics, and cultural evolution, where the patterns of songs change through time. This form of cultural transmission of information has features that are different in speed and form from genetic transmission. More recently, culture, vocal traditions, and an extreme form of song evolution have been documented in cetaceans. Humpback whale song “revolutions,” where the single population-wide shared song type is rapidly replaced by a new, novel song type introduced from a neighboring population, represents an extraordinary example of ocean basin-wide cultural transmission rivaled in its geographic extent only by humans. In this review, we examine the cultural evolutions and revolutions present in some birdsong and whale song, respectively. By taking a comparative approach to these cultural processes, we review the existing evidence to understand the similarities and differences for their patterns of expression and the underlying drivers, including anthropogenic influences, which may shape them. Finally, we encourage future studies to explore the role of innovation vs. production errors in song evolution, the fitness information present in song, and how human-induced changes in population sizes, trajectories, and migratory connections facilitating cultural transmission may be driving song revolutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen C Garland
- Centre for Social Learning and Cognitive Evolution, and Sea Mammal Research Unit, School of Biology, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, United Kingdom
| | - Peter K McGregor
- Eco-Ethology Research Unit, ISPA-Instituto Universitário, Lisbon, Portugal
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22
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Saitta ET, Stockdale MT, Longrich NR, Bonhomme V, Benton MJ, Cuthill IC, Makovicky PJ. An effect size statistical framework for investigating sexual dimorphism in non-avian dinosaurs and other extinct taxa. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blaa105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Despite reports of sexual dimorphism in extinct taxa, such claims in non-avian dinosaurs have been rare over the last decade and have often been criticized. Since dimorphism is widespread in sexually reproducing organisms today, under-reporting in the literature might suggest either methodological shortcomings or that this diverse group exhibited highly unusual reproductive biology. Univariate significance testing, especially for bimodality, is ineffective and prone to false negatives. Species recognition and mutual sexual selection hypotheses, therefore, may not be required to explain supposed absence of sexual dimorphism across the grade (a type II error). Instead, multiple lines of evidence support sexual selection and variation of structures consistent with secondary sexual characteristics, strongly suggesting sexual dimorphism in non-avian dinosaurs. We propose a framework for studying sexual dimorphism in fossils, focusing on likely secondary sexual traits and testing against all alternate hypotheses for variation in them using multiple lines of evidence. We use effect size statistics appropriate for low sample sizes, rather than significance testing, to analyse potential divergence of growth curves in traits and constrain estimates for dimorphism magnitude. In many cases, estimates of sexual variation can be reasonably accurate, and further developments in methods to improve sex assignments and account for intrasexual variation (e.g. mixture modelling) will improve accuracy. It is better to compare estimates for the magnitude of and support for dimorphism between datasets than to dichotomously reject or fail to reject monomorphism in a single species, enabling the study of sexual selection across phylogenies and time. We defend our approach with simulated and empirical data, including dinosaur data, showing that even simple approaches can yield fairly accurate estimates of sexual variation in many cases, allowing for comparison of species with high and low support for sexual variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan T Saitta
- Life Sciences Section, Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | - Nicholas R Longrich
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry and Milner Centre for Evolution, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - Vincent Bonhomme
- Institut des sciences de l’évolution, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Innes C Cuthill
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Peter J Makovicky
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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23
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Dunlop RA, McCauley RD, Noad MJ. Ships and air guns reduce social interactions in humpback whales at greater ranges than other behavioral impacts. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 154:111072. [PMID: 32319903 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Revised: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the interactions between human activity in the ocean and marine mammals is a fundamental step to developing responsible mitigation measures and informing policy. Here, the response of migrating humpback whales to vessels towing seismic air gun arrays (on or off) was quantified as a reduction in their likelihood of socially interacting (joining together). Groups were significantly less likely to participate in a joining interaction in the presence of a vessel, regardless of whether or not the air guns were active. This reduction was especially pronounced in groups within a social environment that favored joining, that is, when singing whales or other groups were nearby. Seismic survey mitigation practices are designed primarily to prevent damage to whales' hearing from close-by sources. Here, we found potentially detrimental behavioral changes at much greater ranges, and much lower received levels, than those used for current mitigation recommendations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca A Dunlop
- Cetacean Ecology and Acoustics Laboratory, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland 4343, Australia.
| | - Robert D McCauley
- Centre Marine Science and Technology, Curtin University, GPO Box U 1987, Perth 6845, WA, Australia
| | - Michael J Noad
- Cetacean Ecology and Acoustics Laboratory, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland 4343, Australia
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24
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Melo-Santos G, Walmsley SF, Marmontel M, Oliveira-da-Costa M, Janik VM. Repeated downsweep vocalizations of the Araguaian river dolphin, Inia araguaiaensis. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2020; 147:748. [PMID: 32113279 DOI: 10.1121/10.0000624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 01/09/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Araguaian botos (Inia araguaiaensis) are known to produce pulsed as well as tonal sounds. This study documents the first evidence for repetitive sequences of downsweep whistles in botos that appear to be shared between individuals, and the context of their occurrence is investigated. Boat surveys were conducted along the Tocantins River located in the Eastern Amazon over a period of 42 days between 2012 and 2018. Eighty-two groups of Araguaian botos were observed, and 43 h of sound recordings were acquired. 632 downsweep whistles were recorded in 10 encounters. Four of these encounters contained downsweep bouts (21 bouts with ≥2 whistles) with short inter-call intervals (bout criterion 50 s) and up to 161 whistles. A statistical relationship was not found between downsweep occurrence and any of the contextual parameters that were investigated, including socializing, travelling, feeding, group size, presence of calves, and socio-sexual displays. The rarity of these signals makes them unlikely candidates for individual or group identification. It is more likely that they are associated with very specific contexts, such as nursing or mating, both of which were rarely observed in this study. Further studies are required to investigate context specificity and elucidate the function of these signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Melo-Santos
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, East Sands, KY16 8LB, St Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Sam F Walmsley
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, East Sands, KY16 8LB, St Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Miriam Marmontel
- Research Group on Amazonian Aquatic Mammals, Mamirauá Sustainable, Development Institute, Estrada do Bexiga No. 2584, Tefé, Brazil
| | | | - Vincent M Janik
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, East Sands, KY16 8LB, St Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom
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25
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Mingramm FMJ, Keeley T, Whitworth DJ, Dunlop RA. The influence of physiological status on the reproductive behaviour of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). Horm Behav 2020; 117:104606. [PMID: 31639386 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2019.104606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2019] [Revised: 09/22/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
For most cetacean species, there is little known about how an individual's physiology influences its behaviour. Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) are a good candidate to examine such links as they have a well-described distribution and behaviour, can be consistently sampled using remote biopsy systems, and have been the subject of several previous endocrine studies. The objective here was to examine whether a female humpback whale's social state (i.e. escorted by a male or not) is related to her endocrine condition, and whether male dominance ranking is related to testosterone levels. Skin and blubber biopsies were collected from the east and west Australian humpback whale populations in 2010-2016 (n = 252) at multiple times throughout the winter-spring breeding season. Steroid hormones were extracted from blubber and concentrations of progesterone (a marker for pregnancy), testosterone (a marker of male testicular activity) and oestradiol (a potential marker of ovarian activity) measured using enzyme-immunoassays. Principal escorts-the dominant males in mixed sex groups-had significantly higher blubber testosterone levels (mean ± SE; 1.43 ± 0.20 ng/g wet weight) than subordinate, secondary escorts (0.69 ± 0.06 ng/g wet weight). Females that were escorted by males typically possessed elevated blubber oestradiol levels (1.96 ± 0.25 ng/g wet weight; p = 0.014); few were considered to be pregnant (p = 0.083). 'Unescorted' females displayed characteristically lower blubber oestradiol levels (0.56 ± 0.06 ng/g wet weight). Together, these results are consistent with 'challenge hypothesis' theory and suggest the existence of associated reproductive patterns in humpback whales.
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Affiliation(s)
- F M J Mingramm
- Cetacean Ecology and Acoustics Laboratory, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia; Wildlife Endocrinology Lab, School of Agriculture and Food Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia.
| | - T Keeley
- Wildlife Endocrinology Lab, School of Agriculture and Food Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia
| | - D J Whitworth
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia; Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - R A Dunlop
- Cetacean Ecology and Acoustics Laboratory, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia
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26
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Bionic Morse Coding Mimicking Humpback Whale Song for Covert Underwater Communication. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/app10010186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
A novel method of bionic Morse coding mimicking humpback whale vocal is presented for covert underwater acoustic communication. The complex humpback whale song is translated as bionic Morse codes based on information entropy. The communication signal is made akin to the natural singing of male humpback whales. The intruder can detect the signal but will not be able to recognize the communication signal due to unified resemblance with the natural sound. This novel technique gives an excellent low probability of recognition characteristics. A flawless stealthy underwater acoustic communication has been established which has negligible chances of deciphered with high imperceptibility. Standard mimicry Morse codes have been developed for the characters of the English language and compared with Morse coding. Covert information of one character per second can be watermarked with perfect stealth and clandestine communication. This novel concept has been verified at transmission distance of five km and less than 10−3 Bit Error Rate (BER) is achieved at Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) down to negative seven dB. Zero BER is attained by estimating the channel by a matching pursuit algorithm and equalizing the errors by virtual time reversal mirror technique.
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27
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Ryan JP, Cline DE, Joseph JE, Margolina T, Santora JA, Kudela RM, Chavez FP, Pennington JT, Wahl C, Michisaki R, Benoit-Bird K, Forney KA, Stimpert AK, DeVogelaere A, Black N, Fischer M. Humpback whale song occurrence reflects ecosystem variability in feeding and migratory habitat of the northeast Pacific. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0222456. [PMID: 31525231 PMCID: PMC6746543 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0222456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2019] [Accepted: 08/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
This study examines the occurrence of humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) song in the northeast Pacific from three years of continuous recordings off central California (36.713°N, 122.186°W). Song is prevalent in this feeding and migratory habitat, spanning nine months of the year (September-May), peaking in winter (November-January), and reaching a maximum of 86% temporal coverage (during November 2017). From the rise of song in fall through the end of peak occurrence in winter, song length increases significantly from month to month. The seasonal peak in song coincides with the seasonal trough in day length and sighting-based evidence of whales leaving Monterey Bay, consistent with seasonal migration. During the seasonal song peak, diel variation shows maximum occurrence at night (69% of the time), decreasing during dawn and dusk (52%), and further decreasing with increasing solar elevation during the day, reaching a minimum near solar noon (30%). Song occurrence increased 44% and 55% between successive years. Sighting data within the acoustic detection range of the hydrophone indicate that variation in local population density was an unlikely cause of this large interannual variation. Hydrographic data and modeling of acoustic transmission indicate that changes in neither habitat occupancy nor acoustic transmission were probable causes. Conversely, the positive interannual trend in song paralleled major ecosystem variations, including similarly large positive trends in wind-driven upwelling, primary productivity, and krill abundance. Further, the lowest song occurrence during the first year coincided with anomalously warm ocean temperatures and an extremely toxic harmful algal bloom that affected whales and other marine mammals in the region. These major ecosystem variations may have influenced the health and behavior of humpback whales during the study period.
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Affiliation(s)
- John P. Ryan
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Moss Landing, California, United States of America
| | - Danelle E. Cline
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Moss Landing, California, United States of America
| | - John E. Joseph
- Department of Oceanography, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California, United States of America
| | - Tetyana Margolina
- Department of Oceanography, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California, United States of America
| | - Jarrod A. Santora
- Department of Applied Mathematics, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, United States of America
| | - Raphael M. Kudela
- Ocean Sciences Department, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, United States of America
| | - Francisco P. Chavez
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Moss Landing, California, United States of America
| | - J. Timothy Pennington
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Moss Landing, California, United States of America
| | - Christopher Wahl
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Moss Landing, California, United States of America
| | - Reiko Michisaki
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Moss Landing, California, United States of America
| | - Kelly Benoit-Bird
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Moss Landing, California, United States of America
| | - Karin A. Forney
- Marine Mammal & Turtle Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, Moss Landing, California, United States of America
- Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, San Jose State University, Moss Landing, California, United States of America
| | - Alison K. Stimpert
- Bioacoustics/Vertebrate Ecology, San Jose State University, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Moss Landing, California, United States of America
| | - Andrew DeVogelaere
- Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Monterey, California, United States of America
| | - Nancy Black
- Monterey Bay Whale Watch, Monterey, California, United States of America
| | - Mark Fischer
- Aguasonic Acoustics, Santa Clara, California, United States of America
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28
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Hecker N, Lächele U, Stuckas H, Giere P, Hiller M. Convergent vomeronasal system reduction in mammals coincides with convergent losses of calcium signalling and odorant-degrading genes. Mol Ecol 2019; 28:3656-3668. [PMID: 31332871 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Revised: 06/16/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The vomeronasal system (VNS) serves crucial functions for detecting olfactory clues often related to social and sexual behaviour. Intriguingly, two of the main components of the VNS, the vomeronasal organ (VNO) and the accessory olfactory bulb, are regressed in aquatic mammals, several bats and primates, likely due to adaptations to different ecological niches. To detect genomic changes that are associated with the convergent reduction of the VNS, we performed the first systematic screen for convergently inactivated protein-coding genes associated with convergent VNS reduction, considering 106 mammalian genomes. Extending previous studies, our results support that Trpc2, a cation channel that is important for calcium signalling in the VNO, is a predictive molecular marker for the presence of a VNS. Our screen also detected the convergent inactivation of the calcium-binding protein S100z, the aldehyde oxidase Aox2 that is involved in odorant degradation, and the uncharacterized Mslnl gene that is expressed in the VNO and olfactory epithelium. Furthermore, we found that Trpc2 and S100z or Aox2 are also inactivated in otters and Phocid seals for which no morphological data about the VNS are available yet. This predicts a VNS reduction in these semi-aquatic mammals. By examining the genomes of 115 species in total, our study provides a detailed picture of how the convergent reduction of the VNS coincides with gene inactivation in placental mammals. These inactivated genes provide experimental targets for studying the evolution and biological significance of the olfactory system under different environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolai Hecker
- Center for Systems Biology Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany.,Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Dresden, Germany
| | - Ulla Lächele
- Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Berlin, Germany
| | - Heiko Stuckas
- Population Genetics, Senckenberg Natural History Collections Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Leibniz Institution for Biodiversity and Earth System Research, Dresden, Germany
| | - Peter Giere
- Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Hiller
- Center for Systems Biology Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany.,Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Dresden, Germany
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29
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Madhusudhana SK, Chakraborty B, Latha G. Humpback whale singing activity off the Goan coast in the Eastern Arabian Sea. BIOACOUSTICS 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/09524622.2018.1458248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - G. Latha
- National Institute of Ocean Technology, Chennai, India
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30
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Symmetry Oriented Covert Acoustic Communication by Mimicking Humpback Whale Song. Symmetry (Basel) 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/sym11060752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
To meet the increasing demand of covert underwater acoustic communication, biologically inspired mimicry communication watermarking the data in symmetrical humpback whale song is presented. Mimicry is an entirely different approach from traditional covert communication where data are transmitted by spreading the waveform at a low signal to noise ratio. In this innovative technique, the carrier signal is imitated symmetrical to the ocean background noise, which can be shipping noise, anthropological noise, or the vocals emitted by sea animals. The eavesdropper can detect the communication signal, but will assume it to be real ocean noise due to its symmetry. It excludes the mimicked signal from recognition, which makes the communication covert. In this research, we watermarked the covert information in humpback whale song using discrete cosine transform in the frequency domain. The mimicked symmetrical signal provided excellent imperceptibility with the real song and an outstanding camouflage effect was calculated. We validated the novel concept by simulation and underwater tank experiment. 10−4 BER was achieved in the underwater tank experiment, which was diminished to zero error by using matching pursuit estimation and virtual time reversal equalization. This novel bionic covert communication technique is feasible for clandestine underwater acoustic communication in the presence of an eavesdropper with better imperceptibility.
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31
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Convergence and divergence of songs suggests ongoing, but annually variable, mixing of humpback whale populations throughout the North Pacific. Sci Rep 2019; 9:7002. [PMID: 31065017 PMCID: PMC6505537 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-42233-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Accepted: 03/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
All humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) males in a population sing fundamentally the same version of a complex, progressively changing, series of sounds at any one time - the song. The purpose of this study was to describe the relationship of humpback whale populations across the North Pacific based on song composition. Songs were collected from Philippines, Japan, Hawaii and Mexico in 2011, 2012 and 2013. The presence and proportion of 11 phrase types were compared within and between populations to investigate song similarity and change. Results included: shared song phrases across the North Pacific; variable, temporary, regional song differences; varying rate of song change; and distance a factor, but not predictor in degree of similarity. Shared phrases indicate ongoing mixing of populations throughout the North Pacific. Year to year differences in degree of similarity suggest variability in these interactions. Songs appear to diverge as populations split up and converge when they amalgamate. Song studies complicate current US management policy designating four distinct populations in the North Pacific. North and South Pacific humpback whale population structure may be comparable, although song dynamics may be different. The fluidity of song composition suggests it provides acoustic definition or identity to changing associations of whales.
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32
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Kowarski K, Moors-Murphy H, Maxner E, Cerchio S. Western North Atlantic humpback whale fall and spring acoustic repertoire: Insight into onset and cessation of singing behavior. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2019; 145:2305. [PMID: 31046358 DOI: 10.1121/1.5095404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2018] [Accepted: 03/07/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Humpback whale songs have been described worldwide and studies exploring non-song vocal behavior continue to expand; however, studies on the transition periods when whales shift to and from the seasonal behavioral state of singing are lacking and may be potentially informative regarding the proximal factors controlling the onset and offset of humpback whale male singing. Acoustic recorders collected data off eastern Canada continuously from the Bay of Fundy in the fall of 2015 and near-continuously off northeast Nova Scotia in the spring of 2016. Humpback whale acoustic occurrence and behavior were identified by systematically reviewing a subset of acoustic recordings for presence before analyzing the highest quality recordings for behavior. The onset of singing in the fall was gradual over a period of about three weeks with an intermediate form, termed "song fragment," occurring prior to full songs. In comparison, singing in the spring seemed to end abruptly with few song fragments. Song fragments could be produced by juveniles learning to sing for the first time or mature males preparing for breeding activities prior to migrating to southern breeding grounds. The authors propose an alternative hypothesis that the timing and manner of transitions could be driven by physiological processes similar to those documented in songbirds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie Kowarski
- JASCO Applied Sciences, 32 Troop Avenue, Suite 202, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B3B 1Z1, Canada
| | - Hilary Moors-Murphy
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, 1 Challenger Drive, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Emily Maxner
- JASCO Applied Sciences, 32 Troop Avenue, Suite 202, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B3B 1Z1, Canada
| | - Salvatore Cerchio
- New England Aquarium, Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, USA
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Girola E, Noad MJ, Dunlop RA, Cato DH. Source levels of humpback whales decrease with frequency suggesting an air-filled resonator is used in sound production. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2019; 145:869. [PMID: 30823805 DOI: 10.1121/1.5090492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2018] [Accepted: 01/25/2019] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Source level and frequency are important in determining how far an acoustic signal can travel. However, in some species these sound characteristics have been found to be biomechanically linked, and therefore cannot be modified independently to achieve optimal transmission. This study investigates the variability in source levels and their relationship with frequency in the songs of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). Songs were recorded off eastern Australia using a fixed hydrophone array deployed on the whales' migratory corridor. Singing whales were acoustically tracked. An empirical, frequency-dependent model was used to estimate transmission loss. Source levels and frequency were measured for 2408 song units from 19 singers. Source levels varied from 138 to 187 dB re 1 μPa at 1 m (root mean squared), while peak frequency ranged between 52 and 3877 Hz. Much of the variability in source levels was accounted for by differences between the unit types, with mean source levels for each unit type varying by up to 17 dB. Source levels were negatively correlated with peak frequency and decreased by 2.3 dB per octave. The negative correlation between source levels and frequency is consistent with the presence of an air-filled resonator in the whales' sound production system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Girola
- Cetacean Ecology and Acoustics Laboratory, School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland 4343, Australia
| | - Michael J Noad
- Cetacean Ecology and Acoustics Laboratory, School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland 4343, Australia
| | - Rebecca A Dunlop
- Cetacean Ecology and Acoustics Laboratory, School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland 4343, Australia
| | - Douglas H Cato
- School of Geosciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
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Magnúsdóttir EE, Lim R. Subarctic singers: Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) song structure and progression from an Icelandic feeding ground during winter. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0210057. [PMID: 30673737 PMCID: PMC6343865 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0210057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2017] [Accepted: 12/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Humpback whale songs associated with breeding behaviors are increasingly reported outside of traditional low latitude breeding grounds. Songs from a subarctic feeding ground during the winter were quantitatively characterized to investigate the structure and temporal changes of the songs at such an atypical location. Recordings were collected from 26. January to 12. March, 2011, using bottom mounted recorders. Humpback songs were detected on 91% of the recording days with peak singing activities during 9.–26. February. The majority of the recordings included multiple chorusing singers. The songs were characterized by a) common static themes which transitioned consistently to predictable themes, b) shifting themes which occurred less predictably and c) rare themes. A set median sequence was found for four different periods (sets) of recordings (approximately 1 week each). The set medians were highly similar and formed a single cluster indicating that the sequences of themes sung in this area belonged to a single cluster of songs despite of the variation caused by the shifting themes. These subarctic winter songs could, thus, represent a characteristic song type for this area which is comparable to extensively studied songs from traditional low latitude breeding grounds. An increase in the number of themes per sequence was observed throughout the recording period including minor changes in the application of themes in the songs; indicating a gradual song progression. The results confirm that continual singing of sophisticated songs occur during the breeding season in the subarctic. In addition to being a well-established summer feeding ground the study area appears to be an important overwintering site for humpback whales delaying or canceling their migration where males engage in active sexual displays, i.e. singing. Importantly, such singing activity on a shared feeding ground likely aids the cultural transmission of songs in the North Atlantic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edda E. Magnúsdóttir
- The University of Iceland’s Research Center in Húsavík, Húsavík, Iceland
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland
- * E-mail:
| | - Rangyn Lim
- The University of Iceland’s Research Center in Húsavík, Húsavík, Iceland
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland
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35
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Pultorak JD, Alger SJ, Loria SO, Johnson AM, Marler CA. Changes in Behavior and Ultrasonic Vocalizations During Pair Bonding and in Response to an Infidelity Challenge in Monogamous California Mice. Front Ecol Evol 2018. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2018.00125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Dunlop RA. The communication space of humpback whale social sounds in wind-dominated noise. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2018; 144:540. [PMID: 30180684 DOI: 10.1121/1.5047744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
In animal social networks, a large acoustic communication space tends to involve complex networks. Signal masking may reduce this space, leading to detrimental effects on the animal's ability to obtain important social information. Humpback whales use acoustic social sounds (vocal sounds and surface-generated sounds from breaching or fin slapping) for within- and between-group communication. In this study, changes in various sound parameters (e.g., signal-above-noise and frequency content) of received humpback whale social sounds were statistically modeled against the combined effect of increasing wind-dominated noise and distance from the source (whale) to produce masking models. Behavioral data on vocalizing groups were also used to inform these models. The acoustic communication space, in this shallow water (<50 m) environment, extended to approximately 4 km from the signaler in median wind noise. However, the majority of behavioral interactions occurred within 2 km of the signaler. Surface-generated signals propagated better and likely function to maintain this space in higher wind noise. This study provides a basic wind-noise masking model for social communication signals in humpback whales which can be updated as more information on humpback auditory capabilities, and potential masking effects of anthropogenic noise sources, becomes available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca A Dunlop
- Cetacean Ecology and Acoustics Laboratory, School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton Campus, Queensland, QLD 4343, Australia
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37
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Abstract
Why do humpback whales sing? This paper considers the hypothesis that humpback whales may use song for long range sonar. Given the vocal and social behavior of humpback whales, in several cases it is not apparent how they monitor the movements of distant whales or prey concentrations. Unless distant animals produce sounds, humpback whales are unlikely to be aware of their presence or actions. Some field observations are strongly suggestive of the use of song as sonar. Humpback whales sometimes stop singing and then rapidly approach distant whales in cases where sound production by those whales is not apparent, and singers sometimes alternately sing and swim while attempting to intercept another whale that is swimming evasively. In the evolutionary development of modern cetaceans, perceptual mechanisms have shifted from reliance on visual scanning to the active generation and monitoring of echoes. It is hypothesized that as the size and distance of relevant events increased, humpback whales developed adaptive specializations for long-distance echolocation. Differences between use of songs by humpback whales and use of sonar by other echolocating species are discussed, as are similarities between bat echolocation and singing by humpback whales. Singing humpback whales are known to emit sounds intense enough to generate echoes at long ranges, and to flexibly control the timing and qualities of produced sounds. The major problem for the hypothesis is the lack of recordings of echoes from other whales arriving at singers immediately before they initiate actions related to those whales. An earlier model of echoic processing by singing humpback whales is here revised to incorporate recent discoveries. According to the revised model, both direct echoes from targets and modulations in song-generated reverberation can provide singers with information that can help them make decisions about future actions related to mating, traveling, and foraging. The model identifies acoustic and structural features produced by singing humpback whales that may facilitate a singer's ability to interpret changes in echoic scenes and suggests that interactive signal coordination by singing whales may help them to avoid mutual interference. Specific, testable predictions of the model are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Mercado III
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, United States
- Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior Program, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, United States
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Gridley T, Silva MFP, Wilkinson C, Seakamela SM, Elwen SH. Song recorded near a super-group of humpback whales on a mid-latitude feeding ground off South Africa. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2018; 143:EL298. [PMID: 29716258 DOI: 10.1121/1.5032126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) are well known for their complex song which is culturally transmitted and produced by males. However, the function of singing behavior remains poorly understood. Song was observed from 57 min of acoustic recording in the presence of feeding humpback whales aggregated in the near-shore waters on the west coast of South Africa. The structural organization of the song components, lack of overlap between song units, and consistency in relative received level suggest the song was produced by one "singer." The unusual timing and location of song production adds further evidence of plasticity in song production.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Gridley
- Centre for Statistics in Ecology, Environment, and Conservation, Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa
| | - M F P Silva
- Marine Biology Section, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - C Wilkinson
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, South Africa
| | - S M Seakamela
- Department of Environmental Affairs, Branch Oceans and Coasts, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town, South Africa , , , ,
| | - S H Elwen
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, South Africa
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39
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Murray A, Dunlop RA, Noad MJ, Goldizen AW. Stereotypic and complex phrase types provide structural evidence for a multi-message display in humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2018; 143:980. [PMID: 29495685 DOI: 10.1121/1.5023680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Male humpback whales produce a mating display called "song." Behavioral studies indicate song has inter- and/or intra-sexual functionality, suggesting song may be a multi-message display. Multi-message displays often include stereotypic components that convey group membership for mate attraction and/or male-male interactions, and complex components that convey individual quality for courtship. Humpback whale song contains sounds ("units") arranged into sequences ("phrases"). Repetitions of a specific phrase create a "theme." Within a theme, imperfect phrase repetitions ("phrase variants") create variability among phrases of the same type ("phrase type"). The hypothesis that song contains stereotypic and complex phrase types, structural characteristics consistent with a multi-message display, is investigated using recordings of 17 east Australian males (8:2004, 9:2011). Phrase types are categorized as stereotypic or complex using number of unit types, number of phrase variants, and the proportion of phrases that is unique to an individual versus shared amongst males. Unit types are determined using self-organizing maps. Phrase variants are determined by Levenshtein distances between phrases. Stereotypic phrase types have smaller numbers of unit types and shared phrase variants. Complex phrase types have larger numbers of unit types and unique phrase variants. This study supports the hypothesis that song could be a multi-message display.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita Murray
- Cetacean Ecology and Acoustics Laboratory, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, 4343, Australia
| | - Rebecca A Dunlop
- Cetacean Ecology and Acoustics Laboratory, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, 4343, Australia
| | - Michael J Noad
- Cetacean Ecology and Acoustics Laboratory, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, 4343, Australia
| | - Anne W Goldizen
- Behavioural Ecology Research Group, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia
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40
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Cholewiak DM, Cerchio S, Jacobsen JK, Urbán-R. J, Clark CW. Songbird dynamics under the sea: acoustic interactions between humpback whales suggest song mediates male interactions. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2018; 5:171298. [PMID: 29515847 PMCID: PMC5830736 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.171298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2017] [Accepted: 01/10/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The function of song has been well studied in numerous taxa and plays a role in mediating both intersexual and intrasexual interactions. Humpback whales are among few mammals who sing, but the role of sexual selection on song in this species is poorly understood. While one predominant hypothesis is that song mediates male-male interactions, the mechanism by which this may occur has never been explored. We applied metrics typically used to assess songbird interactions to examine song sequences and movement patterns of humpback whale singers. We found that males altered their song presentation in the presence of other singers; focal males increased the rate at which they switched between phrase types (p = 0.005), and tended to increase the overall evenness of their song presentation (p = 0.06) after a second male began singing. Two-singer dyads overlapped their song sequences significantly more than expected by chance. Spatial analyses revealed that change in distance between singers was related to whether both males kept singing (p = 0.012), with close approaches leading to song cessation. Overall, acoustic interactions resemble known mechanisms of mediating intrasexual interactions in songbirds. Future work should focus on more precisely resolving how changes in song presentation may be used in competition between singing males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle M. Cholewiak
- Protected Species Branch, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA, USA
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior and the Bioacoustics Research Program, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Salvatore Cerchio
- New England Aquarium, Boston, MA, USA
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA
| | - Jeff K. Jacobsen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA, USA
| | - Jorge Urbán-R.
- Programa de Investigación de Mamíferos Marinos, Departamento de Biología Marina, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur, La Paz, BCS, México
| | - Christopher W. Clark
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior and the Bioacoustics Research Program, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
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41
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Verfuss UK, Gillespie D, Gordon J, Marques TA, Miller B, Plunkett R, Theriault JA, Tollit DJ, Zitterbart DP, Hubert P, Thomas L. Comparing methods suitable for monitoring marine mammals in low visibility conditions during seismic surveys. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2018; 126:1-18. [PMID: 29421075 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.10.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2017] [Revised: 10/06/2017] [Accepted: 10/16/2017] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Loud sound emitted during offshore industrial activities can impact marine mammals. Regulations typically prescribe marine mammal monitoring before and/or during these activities to implement mitigation measures that minimise potential acoustic impacts. Using seismic surveys under low visibility conditions as a case study, we review which monitoring methods are suitable and compare their relative strengths and weaknesses. Passive acoustic monitoring has been implemented as either a complementary or alternative method to visual monitoring in low visibility conditions. Other methods such as RADAR, active sonar and thermal infrared have also been tested, but are rarely recommended by regulatory bodies. The efficiency of the monitoring method(s) will depend on the animal behaviour and environmental conditions, however, using a combination of complementary systems generally improves the overall detection performance. We recommend that the performance of monitoring systems, over a range of conditions, is explored in a modelling framework for a variety of species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ursula K Verfuss
- SMRU Consulting, Europe, New Technology Centre, North Haugh, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9SR, UK.
| | - Douglas Gillespie
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, Fife KY16 8LB, UK
| | - Jonathan Gordon
- Marine Ecological Research, 7 Beechwood Terrace West, Newport-On-Tay, Fife DD6 8JH, UK
| | - Tiago A Marques
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, The Observatory, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9LZ, UK
| | - Brianne Miller
- SMRU Consulting, North America, 1529 W 6th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6J 1R1, Canada
| | - Rachael Plunkett
- SMRU Consulting, Europe, New Technology Centre, North Haugh, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9SR, UK
| | - James A Theriault
- Ocean Environmental Consulting, 9 Ravine Park Cres, Halifax B3M 4S6, NS, Canada
| | - Dominic J Tollit
- SMRU Consulting, North America, 1529 W 6th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6J 1R1, Canada
| | - Daniel P Zitterbart
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Philippe Hubert
- Prove Systems Ltd, Unit 1 Mill court, Mill lane, Tayport, Fife DD6 9EL, UK
| | - Len Thomas
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, The Observatory, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9LZ, UK
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42
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Khan AA, Qureshi IZ. Vocalizations of adult male Asian koels (Eudynamys scolopacea) in the breeding season. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0186604. [PMID: 29053720 PMCID: PMC5650150 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0186604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2017] [Accepted: 10/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Defining the vocal repertoire provides a basis for understanding the role of acoustic signals in sexual and social interactions of an animal. The Asian koel (Eudynamys scolopacea) is a migratory bird which spends its summer breeding season in the plains of Pakistan. The bird is typically wary and secretive but produces loud and distinct calls, making it easily detected when unseen. Like the other birds in the wild, presumably Asian koels use their calls for social cohesion and coordination of different behaviors. To date, the description of vocal repertoire of the male Asian koel has been lacking. Presently we analyzed and described for the first time the vocalizations of the adult male Asian koel, recorded in two consecutive breeding seasons. Using 10 call parameters, we categorized the vocalization type into six different categories on the basis of spectrogram and statistical analyses, namely the; “type 1 cooee call”, “type 2 cooee call”, “type 1 coegh call”, “type 2 coegh call”, “wurroo call” and “coe call”. These names were assigned not on the basis of functional analysis and were therefore onomatopoeic. Stepwise cross validated discriminant function analysis classified the vocalization correctly (100%) into the predicted vocal categories that we initially classified on the basis of spectrographic examination. Our findings enrich the biological knowledge about vocalizations of the adult male Asian koel and provide a foundation for future acoustic monitoring of the species, as well as for comparative studies with vocalizations of other bird species of the cuckoo family. Further studies on the vocalizations of the Asian koel are required to unravel their functions in sexual selection and individual recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdul Aziz Khan
- Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Irfan Zia Qureshi
- Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
- * E-mail:
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43
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Keller PE, König R, Novembre G. Simultaneous Cooperation and Competition in the Evolution of Musical Behavior: Sex-Related Modulations of the Singer's Formant in Human Chorusing. Front Psychol 2017; 8:1559. [PMID: 28959222 PMCID: PMC5603663 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2017] [Accepted: 08/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Human interaction through music is a vital part of social life across cultures. Influential accounts of the evolutionary origins of music favor cooperative functions related to social cohesion or competitive functions linked to sexual selection. However, work on non-human “chorusing” displays, as produced by congregations of male insects and frogs to attract female mates, suggests that cooperative and competitive functions may coexist. In such chorusing, rhythmic coordination between signalers, which maximizes the salience of the collective broadcast, can arise through competitive mechanisms by which individual males jam rival signals. Here, we show that mixtures of cooperative and competitive behavior also occur in human music. Acoustic analyses of the renowned St. Thomas Choir revealed that, in the presence of female listeners, boys with the deepest voices enhance vocal brilliance and carrying power by boosting high spectral energy. This vocal enhancement may reflect sexually mature males competing for female attention in a covert manner that does not undermine collaborative musical goals. The evolutionary benefits of music may thus lie in its aptness as a medium for balancing sexually motivated behavior and group cohesion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter E Keller
- MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development, Western Sydney UniversitySydney, NSW, Australia.,Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain SciencesLeipzig, Germany
| | - Rasmus König
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain SciencesLeipzig, Germany
| | - Giacomo Novembre
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College LondonLondon, United Kingdom
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44
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Song hybridization events during revolutionary song change provide insights into cultural transmission in humpback whales. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:7822-7829. [PMID: 28739940 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1621072114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Cultural processes occur in a wide variety of animal taxa, from insects to cetaceans. The songs of humpback whales are one of the most striking examples of the transmission of a cultural trait and social learning in any nonhuman animal. To understand how songs are learned, we investigate rare cases of song hybridization, where parts of an existing song are spliced with a new one, likely before an individual totally adopts the new song. Song unit sequences were extracted from over 9,300 phrases recorded during two song revolutions across the South Pacific Ocean, allowing fine-scale analysis of composition and sequencing. In hybrid songs the current and new songs were spliced together in two specific ways: (i) singers placed a single hybrid phrase, in which content from both songs were combined, between the two song types when transitioning from one to the other, and/or (ii) singers spliced complete themes from the revolutionary song into the current song. Sequence analysis indicated that both processes were governed by structural similarity rules. Hybrid phrases or theme substitutions occurred at points in the songs where both songs contained "similar sounds arranged in a similar pattern." Songs appear to be learned as segments (themes/phrase types), akin to birdsong and human language acquisition, and these can be combined in predictable ways if the underlying structural pattern is similar. These snapshots of song change provide insights into the mechanisms underlying song learning in humpback whales, and comparative perspectives on the evolution of human language and culture.
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45
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Garland EC, Rendell L, Lilley MS, Poole MM, Allen J, Noad MJ. The devil is in the detail: Quantifying vocal variation in a complex, multi-levelled, and rapidly evolving display. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2017; 142:460. [PMID: 28764464 DOI: 10.1121/1.4991320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Identifying and quantifying variation in vocalizations is fundamental to advancing our understanding of processes such as speciation, sexual selection, and cultural evolution. The song of the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) presents an extreme example of complexity and cultural evolution. It is a long, hierarchically structured vocal display that undergoes constant evolutionary change. Obtaining robust metrics to quantify song variation at multiple scales (from a sound through to population variation across the seascape) is a substantial challenge. Here, the authors present a method to quantify song similarity at multiple levels within the hierarchy. To incorporate the complexity of these multiple levels, the calculation of similarity is weighted by measurements of sound units (lower levels within the display) to bridge the gap in information between upper and lower levels. Results demonstrate that the inclusion of weighting provides a more realistic and robust representation of song similarity at multiple levels within the display. This method permits robust quantification of cultural patterns and processes that will also contribute to the conservation management of endangered humpback whale populations, and is applicable to any hierarchically structured signal sequence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen C Garland
- School of Biology, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Fife, KY16 9TH, United Kingdom
| | - Luke Rendell
- School of Biology, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Fife, KY16 9TH, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew S Lilley
- SecuritEase International, Level 8, IBM Tower, 25 Victoria Street, Petone, 5012, New Zealand
| | - M Michael Poole
- Marine Mammal Research Program, BP 698, Maharepa, 98728, Mo'orea, French Polynesia
| | - Jenny Allen
- Cetacean Ecology and Acoustics Laboratory, School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, 4343, Australia
| | - Michael J Noad
- Cetacean Ecology and Acoustics Laboratory, School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, 4343, Australia
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46
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Dunlop RA. Potential motivational information encoded within humpback whale non-song vocal sounds. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2017; 141:2204. [PMID: 28372096 DOI: 10.1121/1.4978615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Acoustic signals in terrestrial animals follow motivational-structural rules to inform receivers of the signaler's motivational state, valence and level of arousal. Low-frequency "harsh" signals are produced in aggressive contexts, whereas high-frequency tonal sounds are produced in fearful/appeasement contexts. Using the non-song social call catalogue of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), this study tested for potential motivational-structural rules within the call catalogue of a baleen whale species. A total of 32 groups within different social contexts (ranging from stable, low arousal groups, such as a female with her calf, to affiliating, higher arousal, groups containing multiple males competing for access to the central female) were visually and acoustically tracked as they migrated southwards along the eastern coast of Australia. Social calls separated into four main cluster types, with signal structures in two categories consistent with "aggressive" signals and, "fearful/appeasement" signals in terrestrial animals. The group's use of signals within these clusters matched their context in that presumed low arousal non-affiliating groups almost exclusively used "low-arousal" signals (a cluster of low frequency unmodulated or upsweep sounds). Affiliating groups used a higher proportion of an intermediate cluster of signal types deemed "higher arousal" signals and groups containing three or more adults used a higher proportion of "aggressive" signal types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca A Dunlop
- Cetacean Ecology and Acoustics Laboratory, School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton Campus, Queensland, QLD 4343, Australia
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47
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Snijders L, Naguib M. Communication in Animal Social Networks. ADVANCES IN THE STUDY OF BEHAVIOR 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.asb.2017.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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Trudelle L, Cerchio S, Zerbini AN, Geyer Y, Mayer FX, Jung JL, Hervé MR, Pous S, Sallée JB, Rosenbaum HC, Adam O, Charrassin JB. Influence of environmental parameters on movements and habitat utilization of humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae) in the Madagascar breeding ground. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2016; 3:160616. [PMID: 28083104 PMCID: PMC5210686 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.160616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2016] [Accepted: 11/18/2016] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Assessing the movement patterns and key habitat features of breeding humpback whales is a prerequisite for the conservation management of this philopatric species. To investigate the interactions between humpback whale movements and environmental conditions off Madagascar, we deployed 25 satellite tags in the northeast and southwest coast of Madagascar. For each recorded position, we collated estimates of environmental variables and computed two behavioural metrics: behavioural state of 'transiting' (consistent/directional) versus 'localized' (variable/non-directional), and active swimming speed (i.e. speed relative to the current). On coastal habitats (i.e. bathymetry < 200 m and in adjacent areas), females showed localized behaviour in deep waters (191 ± 20 m) and at large distances (14 ± 0.6 km) from shore, suggesting that their breeding habitat extends beyond the shallowest waters available close to the coastline. Males' active swimming speed decreased in shallow waters, but environmental parameters did not influence their likelihood to exhibit localized movements, which was probably dominated by social factors instead. In oceanic habitats, both males and females showed localized behaviours in shallow waters and favoured high chlorophyll-a concentrations. Active swimming speed accounts for a large proportion of observed movement speed; however, breeding humpback whales probably exploit prevailing ocean currents to maximize displacement. This study provides evidence that coastal areas, generally subject to strong human pressure, remain the core habitat of humpback whales off Madagascar. Our results expand the knowledge of humpback whale habitat use in oceanic habitat and response to variability of environmental factors such as oceanic current and chlorophyll level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurène Trudelle
- Bioacoustics Team, Institut de Neurosciences Paris-Saclay (NeuroPSI), CNRS UMR 8195, Université Paris Sud, 91405 Orsay, France
- Sorbonne Universités (UPMC, Univ. Paris 06)—CNRS-IRD-MNHN, LOCEAN-IPSL, 4 place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France
- Biotope, Unité Recherche et Développement, 22 Boulevard Maréchal Foch, BP 58, 34140 Meze, France
| | - Salvatore Cerchio
- New England Aquarium, Central Wharf, Boston, MA, USA
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 266 Woods Hole Road, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
| | - Alexandre N. Zerbini
- National Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98125, USA
- Cascadia Research Collective, 218 1/2 4th Avenue W, Olympia, WA 98501, USA
- Instituto Aqualie, Av. Dr. Paulo Japiassú 714/206, Juiz de Fora, MG 36033-310, Brazil
| | - Ygor Geyer
- Instituto Aqualie, Av. Dr. Paulo Japiassú 714/206, Juiz de Fora, MG 36033-310, Brazil
| | | | | | - Maxime R. Hervé
- Institute of Plant Sciences—‘Biotic interactions’ group, Altenbergrain 21, 3013 Bern, Switzerland
- INRA, UMR1349 IGEPP, 35653 Le Rheu, France
| | - Stephane Pous
- Sorbonne Universités (UPMC, Univ. Paris 06)—CNRS-IRD-MNHN, LOCEAN-IPSL, 4 place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France
- Department of Oceanography, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Jean-Baptiste Sallée
- Sorbonne Universités (UPMC, Univ. Paris 06)—CNRS-IRD-MNHN, LOCEAN-IPSL, 4 place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Howard C. Rosenbaum
- Ocean Giants Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, 2300 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY 10460, USA
| | - Olivier Adam
- Bioacoustics Team, Institut de Neurosciences Paris-Saclay (NeuroPSI), CNRS UMR 8195, Université Paris Sud, 91405 Orsay, France
- Sorbonne Université, UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS UMR 7190, Institut Jean Le Rond d'Alembert, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Jean-Benoit Charrassin
- Sorbonne Universités (UPMC, Univ. Paris 06)—CNRS-IRD-MNHN, LOCEAN-IPSL, 4 place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France
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Herman LM. The multiple functions of male song within the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) mating system: review, evaluation, and synthesis. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2016; 92:1795-1818. [PMID: 28677337 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2016] [Revised: 10/04/2016] [Accepted: 10/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) are seasonal breeders, annually migrating from high-latitude summer feeding grounds to low-latitude winter breeding grounds. The social matrix on the winter grounds is a loose network of interacting individuals and groups and notably includes lone males that produce long bouts of complex song that collectively yield an asynchronous chorus. Occasionally, a male will sing while accompanying other whales. Despite a wealth of knowledge about the social matrix, the full characterization of the mating system remains unresolved, without any firm consensus, as does the function of song within that system. Here, I consider and critically analyse three proposed functions of song that have received the most attention in the literature: female attraction to individual singers, determining or facilitating male-male interactions, and attracting females to a male aggregation within the context of a lekking system. Female attraction suggests that humpback song is an advertisement and invitation to females, but field observations and song playback studies reveal that female visits to individual singers are virtually absent. Other observations suggest instead that females might convey their presence to singers (or to other males) through the percussive sounds of flipper or tail slapping or possibly through vocalizations. There is some evidence for male-male interactions, both dominance and affiliative: visits to singers are almost always other lone males not singing at that time. The joiner may be seeking a coalition with the singer to engage cooperatively in attempts to obtain females, or may be seeking to disrupt the song or to affirm his dominance. Some observations support one or the other intent. However, other observations, in part based on the brevity of most pairings, suggest that the joiner is prospecting, seeking to determine whether the singer is accompanying a female, and if not soon departs. In the lekking hypothesis, the aggregation of vocalizing males on a winter ground and the visits there by non-maternal females apparently for mating meet the fundamental definition of a lekking system and its role though communal display in attracting females to the aggregation, although not to an individual singer. Communal singing is viewed as a form of by-product mutualism in which individuals benefit one another as incidental consequences of their own selfish actions. Possibly, communal singing may also act to stimulate female receptivity. Thus, there are both limitations and merit in all three proposals. Full consideration of song as serving multiple functions is therefore necessary to understand its role in the mating system and the forces acting on the evolution of song. I suggest that song may be the prime vector recruiting colonists to new winter grounds pioneered by vagrant males as population pressures increase or as former winter grounds become unavailable or undesirable, with such instances documented relatively recently. Speculatively, song may have evolved historically as an aggregating call during the dynamic ocean conditions and resulting habitat uncertainties in the late Miocene-early Pliocene epochs when Megaptera began to proliferate. Early song may have been comprised of simpler precursor sounds that through natural selection and ritualization evolved into complex song.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis M Herman
- Department of Psychology, University of Hawaii at Manoa and The Dolphin Institute
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Chen J, Pack AA, Au WWL, Stimpert AK. Measurements of humpback whale song sound levels received by a calf in association with a singer. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2016; 140:4010. [PMID: 27908071 DOI: 10.1121/1.4967444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Male humpback whales produce loud "songs" on the wintering grounds and some sing while escorting mother-calf pairs, exposing them to near-continuous sounds at close proximity. An Acousonde acoustic and movement recording tag deployed on a calf off Maui, Hawaii captured sounds produced by a singing male escort. Root-mean-square received levels ranged from 126 to 158 dB re 1 μPa. These levels represent rare direct measurements of sound to which a newly born humpback calf may be naturally exposed by a conspecific, and may provide a basis for informed decisions regarding anthropogenic sound levels projected near calves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Chen
- Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 46-007 Lilipuna Road, Kaneohe, Hawaii 96744, USA
| | - Adam A Pack
- Departments of Psychology and Biology and LOHE Bioacoustics Laboratory, University of Hawaii at Hilo, 200 West Kawili Street, Hilo, Hawaii 96720, USA
| | - Whitlow W L Au
- Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 46-007 Lilipuna Road, Kaneohe, Hawaii 96744, USA
| | - Alison K Stimpert
- Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, 8272 Moss Landing Road, Moss Landing, California 95039, USA
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