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Brewer AM, Castellote M, Van Cise AM, Gage T, Berdahl AM. Communication in Cook Inlet beluga whales: Describing the vocal repertoire and masking of calls by commercial ship noise. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2023; 154:3487-3505. [PMID: 38032263 DOI: 10.1121/10.0022516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Many species rely on acoustic communication to coordinate activities and communicate to conspecifics. Cataloging vocal behavior is a first step towards understanding how individuals communicate information and how communication may be degraded by anthropogenic noise. The Cook Inlet beluga population is endangered with an estimated 331 individuals. Anthropogenic noise is considered a threat for this population and can negatively impact communication. To characterize this population's vocal behavior, vocalizations were measured and classified into three categories: whistles (n = 1264, 77%), pulsed calls (n = 354, 22%), and combined calls (n = 15, 1%), resulting in 41 call types. Two quantitative analyses were conducted to compare with the manual classification. A classification and regression tree and Random Forest had a 95% and 85% agreement with the manual classification, respectively. The most common call types per category were then used to investigate masking by commercial ship noise. Results indicate that these call types were partially masked by distant ship noise and completely masked by close ship noise in the frequency range of 0-12 kHz. Understanding vocal behavior and the effects of masking in Cook Inlet belugas provides important information supporting the management of this endangered population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arial M Brewer
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Manuel Castellote
- Cooperative Institute for Climate, Ocean and Ecosystem Studies, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Amy M Van Cise
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Tom Gage
- Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Anchorage, Alaska 99518, USA
| | - Andrew M Berdahl
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
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Collarini E, Capponcelli L, Pierdomenico A, Norscia I, Cordoni G. Sows' Responses to Piglets in Distress: An Experimental Investigation in a Natural Setting. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2261. [PMID: 37508041 PMCID: PMC10376744 DOI: 10.3390/ani13142261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Domestic pigs (Sus scrofa) possess complex socio-cognitive skills, and sows show high inter-individual variability in maternal behaviour. To evaluate how females-reared under natural conditions-react to the isolation calls of their own piglets or those of other females, we conducted observations and experimental trials. In January-February 2021, we conducted all-occurrences sampling on affiliation, aggression, and lactation (daily, 7:30-16:30 h) on six lactating and four non-lactating females at the ethical farm Parva Domus (Turin, Italy). The trials (30 s each, n = 37/sow) consisted of briefly catching and restraining a piglet. We recorded the sow response (none/reactive/proactive movement towards the piglet; self-directed anxiety behaviours such as body shaking) before and during the trial and under control conditions. Increased levels of anxiety behaviour in sows were accompanied by an increased frequency of responses. Less aggressive sows and lactating sows showed the highest frequencies of response. Finally, the isolation calls' maximum intensity had an influence on the type of response observed, with higher proactive response frequencies following lower intensity isolation calls. Our results suggest that being under lactation could play a key role in increasing sow response levels and that specific acoustic features may influence the response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edoardo Collarini
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino (DBIOS), Via Accademia Albertina 13, 20123 Torino, Italy
| | - Luca Capponcelli
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino (DBIOS), Via Accademia Albertina 13, 20123 Torino, Italy
| | - Andrea Pierdomenico
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino (DBIOS), Via Accademia Albertina 13, 20123 Torino, Italy
| | - Ivan Norscia
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino (DBIOS), Via Accademia Albertina 13, 20123 Torino, Italy
| | - Giada Cordoni
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino (DBIOS), Via Accademia Albertina 13, 20123 Torino, Italy
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Panova E, Agafonov A. Possible occurrence of contact calls in all‐male groups of free‐ranging beluga whales. J Zool (1987) 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.13054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- E. Panova
- Shirshov Institute of Oceanology Russian Academy of Sciences Moscow Russia
| | - A. Agafonov
- Shirshov Institute of Oceanology Russian Academy of Sciences Moscow Russia
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Communication sounds produced by captive narrow-ridged finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis). J ETHOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10164-022-00755-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
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Courts R, Erbe C, Wellard R, Boisseau O, Jenner KC, Jenner MN. Australian long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) emit stereotypical, variable, biphonic, multi-component, and sequenced vocalisations, similar to those recorded in the northern hemisphere. Sci Rep 2020; 10:20609. [PMID: 33244014 PMCID: PMC7693278 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-74111-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
While in the northern hemisphere, many studies have been conducted on the vocal repertoire of long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas), no such study has been conducted in the southern hemisphere. Presented here, is the first study on the vocalisations of long-finned pilot whales along the southern coast of mainland Australia. Multiple measures were taken of 2028 vocalisations recorded over five years in several locations. These vocalisations included tonal sounds with and without overtones, sounds of burst-pulse character, graded sounds, biphonations, and calls of multiple components. Vocalisations were further categorised based on spectrographic features into 18 contour classes. Altogether, vocalisations ranged from approximately 200 Hz to 25 kHz in fundamental frequency and from 0.03 s to 2.07 s in duration. These measures compared well with those from northern hemisphere pilot whales. Some call types were almost identical to northern hemisphere vocalisations, even though the geographic ranges of the two populations are far apart. Other call types were unique to Australia. Striking similarities with calls of short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) and sometimes sympatric killer whales (Orcinus orca) were also found. Theories for call convergence and divergence are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachael Courts
- Centre for Marine Science and Technology, Curtin University, Perth, WA, 6102, Australia.
| | - Christine Erbe
- Centre for Marine Science and Technology, Curtin University, Perth, WA, 6102, Australia
| | - Rebecca Wellard
- Centre for Marine Science and Technology, Curtin University, Perth, WA, 6102, Australia
- Project ORCA, Perth, WA, 6026, Australia
| | - Oliver Boisseau
- Song of the Whale Research Team, Marine Conservation Research, 94 High Street, Kelvedon Essex, CO5 9AA, UK
| | - K Curt Jenner
- Centre for Whale Research (WA) Inc., PO Box 1622, Fremantle, WA, 6959, Australia
| | - Micheline-N Jenner
- Centre for Whale Research (WA) Inc., PO Box 1622, Fremantle, WA, 6959, Australia
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Mishima Y, Morisaka T, Ishikawa M, Karasawa Y, Yoshida Y. Pulsed call sequences as contact calls in Pacific white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens). THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2019; 146:409. [PMID: 31370601 DOI: 10.1121/1.5116692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Pacific white-sided dolphins are a group-living species and appear to exchange "contact calls" to maintain group cohesion. The aim of this study was to find and characterize their contact calls. Calls were recorded from two females at Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN (OAK) and three females at Izu-Mito Sea Paradise (IMSP). Because they often produced pulsed calls consecutively, a "pulsed call sequence" was defined as three or more successive pulsed calls occurring within 325 ms, which was calculated using a bout analysis. The pulsed call sequences increased during separation periods and decreased during reunions and were used for vocal exchange, suggesting that the sequences are contact calls in Pacific white-sided dolphins. Most of the pulsed call sequences were classified into unique types; several stereotyped, repeated patterns were found. One sequence type was found at OAK and the two dolphins shared the type; they exchanged sequences with type matching. On the other hand, three sequence types were found in IMSP and the three dolphins shared all of the types; however, each dolphin preferentially used different types and frequently exchanged with their own favorite types but not with type matching. These results suggest that the sequence type may function as an individual and/or group identity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuka Mishima
- Department of Marine Resources and Energy, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4-5-7, Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8477, Japan
| | - Tadamichi Morisaka
- Cetacean Research Center, Graduate School of Bioresources, Mie University, 1577, Kurimamachiya-cho, Tsu-shi, Mie, 514-8507, Japan
| | - Megumi Ishikawa
- Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN, 1-1-10, Kaigandori, Minato-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka, 552-0022, Japan
| | - Yuu Karasawa
- Izu-Mito Sea Paradise, 3-1, Nagahama, Uchiura, Numazu-shi, Shizuoka, 410-0295, Japan
| | - Yayoi Yoshida
- Department of Environmental and Societal Affairs, School of Marine Science and Technology, Tokai University, 3-20-1, Orido, Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka-shi, Shizuoka, 424-8610, Japan
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Choi W, Lee JH, Sung HC. A case study of male tawny owl ( Strix aluco) vocalizations in South Korea: call feature, individuality, and the potential use for census. Anim Cells Syst (Seoul) 2019; 23:90-96. [PMID: 30949395 PMCID: PMC6440519 DOI: 10.1080/19768354.2019.1592022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/03/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Vocal individuality has been used as a monitoring tool, and two criteria are a prerequisite: high variation among individuals and low variation within individuals, and vocal consistency within and across seasons. We examined individual variation in the territorial hoot calls of the tawny owl (Strix aluco) to discriminate between males and to assess a possible conservation technique that would allow for monitoring individuals within a study area. The territorial calls were recorded from five males in the Naejang Mountain National Park in South Korea during the breeding season in 2015 and 2016 and analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively to determine the amount of variation within and between individuals. Our results showed that the territorial calls were specific to individuals within a population and that the acoustic distances between males living in the same territory during the two years were the smallest for the four nesting sites. Our results suggest that territorial calls of the tawny owls are individually identifiable over two years and that this acoustic technique can be useful for monitoring individual site fidelity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wonsuk Choi
- School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea
| | - Ju-Hyun Lee
- School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea
| | - Ha-Cheol Sung
- Research Center of Ecomimetics and Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea
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Panova EM, Agafonov AV. A beluga whale socialized with bottlenose dolphins imitates their whistles. Anim Cogn 2017; 20:1153-1160. [PMID: 28956181 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-017-1132-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2017] [Revised: 09/12/2017] [Accepted: 09/22/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The research on imitation in the animal kingdom has more than a century-long history. A specific kind of imitation, auditory-vocal imitation, is well known in birds, especially among songbirds and parrots, but data for mammals are limited to elephants, marine mammals, and humans. Cetaceans are reported to imitate various signals, including species-specific calls, artificial sounds, and even vocalizations from other species if they share the same habitat. Here we describe the changes in the vocal repertoire of a beluga whale that was housed with a group of bottlenose dolphins. Two months after the beluga's introduction into a new facility, we found that it began to imitate whistles of the dolphins, whereas one type of its own calls seemed to disappear. The case reported here may be considered as an interesting phenomenon of vocal accommodation to new social companions and cross-species socialization in cetaceans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena M Panova
- Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Nahimovskiy prospekt, 36, Moscow, Russia, 117997.
| | - Alexandr V Agafonov
- Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Nahimovskiy prospekt, 36, Moscow, Russia, 117997
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