High source levels and small active space of high-pitched song in bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus).
The low-frequency, powerful vocalizations of blue and fin whales may potentially be detected by conspecifics across entire ocean basins. In contrast, humpback and bowhead whales produce equally powerful, but more complex broadband vocalizations composed of higher frequencies that suffer from higher...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:d9ffa5728c4f45909a8a4dd0eed997a1 2023-05-15T15:07:26+02:00 High source levels and small active space of high-pitched song in bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus). Outi M Tervo Mads F Christoffersen Malene Simon Lee A Miller Frants H Jensen Susan E Parks Peter T Madsen 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0052072 https://doaj.org/article/d9ffa5728c4f45909a8a4dd0eed997a1 EN eng Public Library of Science (PLoS) http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3530606?pdf=render https://doaj.org/toc/1932-6203 1932-6203 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0052072 https://doaj.org/article/d9ffa5728c4f45909a8a4dd0eed997a1 PLoS ONE, Vol 7, Iss 12, p e52072 (2012) Medicine R Science Q article 2012 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0052072 2022-12-31T13:19:48Z The low-frequency, powerful vocalizations of blue and fin whales may potentially be detected by conspecifics across entire ocean basins. In contrast, humpback and bowhead whales produce equally powerful, but more complex broadband vocalizations composed of higher frequencies that suffer from higher attenuation. Here we evaluate the active space of high frequency song notes of bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) in Western Greenland using measurements of song source levels and ambient noise. Four independent, GPS-synchronized hydrophones were deployed through holes in the ice to localize vocalizing bowhead whales, estimate source levels and measure ambient noise. The song had a mean apparent source level of 185±2 dB rms re 1 µPa @ 1 m and a high mean centroid frequency of 444±48 Hz. Using measured ambient noise levels in the area and Arctic sound spreading models, the estimated active space of these song notes is between 40 and 130 km, an order of magnitude smaller than the estimated active space of low frequency blue and fin whale songs produced at similar source levels and for similar noise conditions. We propose that bowhead whales spatially compensate for their smaller communication range through mating aggregations that co-evolved with broadband song to form a complex and dynamic acoustically mediated sexual display. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Balaena mysticetus Fin whale Greenland Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic Arctic Sound ENVELOPE(-108.852,-108.852,67.534,67.534) Greenland PLoS ONE 7 12 e52072 |
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Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Medicine R Science Q |
spellingShingle |
Medicine R Science Q Outi M Tervo Mads F Christoffersen Malene Simon Lee A Miller Frants H Jensen Susan E Parks Peter T Madsen High source levels and small active space of high-pitched song in bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus). |
topic_facet |
Medicine R Science Q |
description |
The low-frequency, powerful vocalizations of blue and fin whales may potentially be detected by conspecifics across entire ocean basins. In contrast, humpback and bowhead whales produce equally powerful, but more complex broadband vocalizations composed of higher frequencies that suffer from higher attenuation. Here we evaluate the active space of high frequency song notes of bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) in Western Greenland using measurements of song source levels and ambient noise. Four independent, GPS-synchronized hydrophones were deployed through holes in the ice to localize vocalizing bowhead whales, estimate source levels and measure ambient noise. The song had a mean apparent source level of 185±2 dB rms re 1 µPa @ 1 m and a high mean centroid frequency of 444±48 Hz. Using measured ambient noise levels in the area and Arctic sound spreading models, the estimated active space of these song notes is between 40 and 130 km, an order of magnitude smaller than the estimated active space of low frequency blue and fin whale songs produced at similar source levels and for similar noise conditions. We propose that bowhead whales spatially compensate for their smaller communication range through mating aggregations that co-evolved with broadband song to form a complex and dynamic acoustically mediated sexual display. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Outi M Tervo Mads F Christoffersen Malene Simon Lee A Miller Frants H Jensen Susan E Parks Peter T Madsen |
author_facet |
Outi M Tervo Mads F Christoffersen Malene Simon Lee A Miller Frants H Jensen Susan E Parks Peter T Madsen |
author_sort |
Outi M Tervo |
title |
High source levels and small active space of high-pitched song in bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus). |
title_short |
High source levels and small active space of high-pitched song in bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus). |
title_full |
High source levels and small active space of high-pitched song in bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus). |
title_fullStr |
High source levels and small active space of high-pitched song in bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus). |
title_full_unstemmed |
High source levels and small active space of high-pitched song in bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus). |
title_sort |
high source levels and small active space of high-pitched song in bowhead whales (balaena mysticetus). |
publisher |
Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
publishDate |
2012 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0052072 https://doaj.org/article/d9ffa5728c4f45909a8a4dd0eed997a1 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-108.852,-108.852,67.534,67.534) |
geographic |
Arctic Arctic Sound Greenland |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Arctic Sound Greenland |
genre |
Arctic Balaena mysticetus Fin whale Greenland |
genre_facet |
Arctic Balaena mysticetus Fin whale Greenland |
op_source |
PLoS ONE, Vol 7, Iss 12, p e52072 (2012) |
op_relation |
http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3530606?pdf=render https://doaj.org/toc/1932-6203 1932-6203 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0052072 https://doaj.org/article/d9ffa5728c4f45909a8a4dd0eed997a1 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0052072 |
container_title |
PLoS ONE |
container_volume |
7 |
container_issue |
12 |
container_start_page |
e52072 |
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