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Cusano DA, Wiley D, Zeh JM, Kerr I, Pensarosa A, Zadra C, Shorter KA, Parks SE. Acoustic recording tags provide insight into the springtime acoustic behavior of sei whales in Massachusetts Bay. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2023; 154:3543-3555. [PMID: 38038616 DOI: 10.1121/10.0022570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
The acoustic ecology of sei whales (Balaenoptera borealis) is poorly understood due to limited direct observation of the behavioral context of sound production and individual behavior. Suction cup-attached acoustic recording tags were deployed on sei whales to unambiguously assign call types and explore the acoustic behavior of this endangered species. Twelve tag deployments resulted in ∼173 h of acoustic data and 1030 calls. Sound types included downsweeps and three previously undescribed call types. Knocks were short duration (<1 s), with an average peak frequency of 330 Hz. Pulse type 1 and pulse type 2 calls, typically produced in sequences, were short in duration (0.08 and 0.28 s) and low in average peak frequency (50 and 26 Hz), with relatively high received levels. Average call rates for all call types combined were three calls per hour, but increased during twilight. Sex differences in call type usage included a higher use of pulses by females and knocks by males. Calls were almost exclusively produced at depths <10 m, although whales rarely dove deeper in this study. These data provide a more comprehensive picture of the acoustic and behavioral ecology of sei whales than previously possible, which can inform future conservation efforts for this endangered species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana A Cusano
- National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, USA
| | - David Wiley
- Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, Scituate, Massachusetts 02066, USA
| | - Julia M Zeh
- Biology Department, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, USA
| | - Iain Kerr
- Ocean Alliance, Gloucester, Massachusetts 01930, USA
| | | | - Chris Zadra
- Ocean Alliance, Gloucester, Massachusetts 01930, USA
| | - K Alex Shorter
- Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - Susan E Parks
- Biology Department, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, USA
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Saloma A, Ratsimbazafindranahaka MN, Martin M, Andrianarimisa A, Huetz C, Adam O, Charrier I. Social calls in humpback whale mother-calf groups off Sainte Marie breeding ground (Madagascar, Indian Ocean). PeerJ 2022; 10:e13785. [PMID: 35990903 PMCID: PMC9390327 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) use vocalizations during diverse social interactions or activities such as foraging or mating. Unlike songs produced only by males, social calls are produced by all types of individuals (adult males and females, juveniles and calves). Several studies have described social calls in the humpback whale's breeding and the feeding grounds and from different geographic areas. We aimed to investigate for the first time the vocal repertoire of humpback whale mother-calf groups during the breeding season off Sainte Marie island, Madagascar, South Western Indian Ocean using data collected in 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017. We recorded social calls using Acousonde tags deployed on the mother or the calf in mother-calf groups. A total of 21 deployments were analyzed. We visually and aurally identified 30 social call types and classified them into five categories: low, medium, high-frequency sounds, amplitude-modulated sounds, and pulsed sounds. The aural-visual classifications have been validated using random forest (RF) analyses. Low-frequency sounds constituted 46% of all social calls, mid-frequency 35%, and high frequency 10%. Amplitude-modulated sounds constituted 8% of all vocalizations, and pulsed sounds constituted 1%. While some social call types seemed specific to our study area, others presented similarities with social calls described in other geographic areas, on breeding and foraging grounds, and during migrating routes. Among the call types described in this study, nine call types were also found in humpback whale songs recorded in the same region. The 30 call types highlight the diversity of the social calls recorded in mother-calf groups and thus the importance of acoustic interactions in the relationships between the mother and her calf and between the mother-calf pair and escorts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjara Saloma
- Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Saclay, France,Département de Zoologie et Biodiversité Animale, Université d’Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar,Association Cétamada, Barachois Sainte Marie, Madagascar
| | - Maevatiana N. Ratsimbazafindranahaka
- Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Saclay, France,Département de Zoologie et Biodiversité Animale, Université d’Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar,Association Cétamada, Barachois Sainte Marie, Madagascar
| | - Mathilde Martin
- Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Saclay, France
| | - Aristide Andrianarimisa
- Département de Zoologie et Biodiversité Animale, Université d’Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar
| | - Chloé Huetz
- Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Saclay, France
| | - Olivier Adam
- Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Saclay, France,Institut Jean Le Rond d’Alembert, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Isabelle Charrier
- Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Saclay, France
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