Whistle communication in mammal-eating killer whales (Orcinus orca):further evidence for acoustic divergence between ecotypes
Public signaling plays an important role in territorial and sexual displays in animals; however, in certain situations, it is advantageous to keep signaling private to prevent eavesdropping by unintended receivers. In the northeastern Pacific, two populations of killer whales (Orcinus orca), fish-ea...
Published in: | Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology |
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Language: | English |
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2011
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Online Access: | https://risweb.st-andrews.ac.uk/portal/en/researchoutput/whistle-communication-in-mammaleating-killer-whales-orcinus-orca(b8404f47-b8ba-4499-838d-42c2bd71dc49).html https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-011-1148-8 |
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ftunstandrewcris:oai:risweb.st-andrews.ac.uk:publications/b8404f47-b8ba-4499-838d-42c2bd71dc49 |
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ftunstandrewcris:oai:risweb.st-andrews.ac.uk:publications/b8404f47-b8ba-4499-838d-42c2bd71dc49 2023-05-15T17:53:40+02:00 Whistle communication in mammal-eating killer whales (Orcinus orca):further evidence for acoustic divergence between ecotypes Riesch, Ruediger Deecke, Volker B. 2011-07 https://risweb.st-andrews.ac.uk/portal/en/researchoutput/whistle-communication-in-mammaleating-killer-whales-orcinus-orca(b8404f47-b8ba-4499-838d-42c2bd71dc49).html https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-011-1148-8 eng eng info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess Riesch , R & Deecke , V B 2011 , ' Whistle communication in mammal-eating killer whales (Orcinus orca) : further evidence for acoustic divergence between ecotypes ' , Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology , vol. 65 , no. 7 , pp. 1377-1387 . https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-011-1148-8 Acoustic crypsis Communication networks Eavesdropping Feeding ecology Predation Private signals Public signals Social networks BRITISH-COLUMBIA SOCIAL AFFILIATION STEREOTYPED CALLS VANCOUVER-ISLAND BEHAVIOR ECHOLOCATION SIGNALS SONG CATEGORIZATION article 2011 ftunstandrewcris https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-011-1148-8 2022-06-02T07:46:16Z Public signaling plays an important role in territorial and sexual displays in animals; however, in certain situations, it is advantageous to keep signaling private to prevent eavesdropping by unintended receivers. In the northeastern Pacific, two populations of killer whales (Orcinus orca), fish-eating "resident" killer whales and mammal-eating "transient" killer whales, share the same habitat. Previous studies have shown that residents use whistles as private signals during close-range communication, where they probably serve to coordinate behavioral interactions. Here, we investigated the whistling behavior of mammal-eating killer whales, and, based on divergent social structures and social behaviors between residents and transients, we predicted to find differences in both whistle usage and whistle parameters. Our results show that, like resident killer whales, transients produce both variable and stereotyped whistles. However, clear differences in whistle parameters between ecotypes show that the whistle repertoire of mammal-eating killer whales is clearly distinct from and less complex than that of fish-eating killer whales. Furthermore, mammal-eating killer whales only produce whistles during "milling after kill" and "surface-active" behaviors, but are almost completely silent during all other activities. Nonetheless, whistles of transient killer whales may still serve a role similar to that of resident killer whales. Mammal-eating killer whales seem to be under strong selection to keep their communication private from potential prey (whose hearing ranges overlap with that of killer whales), and they appear to accomplish this mainly by restricting vocal activity rather than by changes in whistle parameters. Article in Journal/Newspaper Orca Orcinus orca University of St Andrews: Research Portal Pacific Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 65 7 1377 1387 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of St Andrews: Research Portal |
op_collection_id |
ftunstandrewcris |
language |
English |
topic |
Acoustic crypsis Communication networks Eavesdropping Feeding ecology Predation Private signals Public signals Social networks BRITISH-COLUMBIA SOCIAL AFFILIATION STEREOTYPED CALLS VANCOUVER-ISLAND BEHAVIOR ECHOLOCATION SIGNALS SONG CATEGORIZATION |
spellingShingle |
Acoustic crypsis Communication networks Eavesdropping Feeding ecology Predation Private signals Public signals Social networks BRITISH-COLUMBIA SOCIAL AFFILIATION STEREOTYPED CALLS VANCOUVER-ISLAND BEHAVIOR ECHOLOCATION SIGNALS SONG CATEGORIZATION Riesch, Ruediger Deecke, Volker B. Whistle communication in mammal-eating killer whales (Orcinus orca):further evidence for acoustic divergence between ecotypes |
topic_facet |
Acoustic crypsis Communication networks Eavesdropping Feeding ecology Predation Private signals Public signals Social networks BRITISH-COLUMBIA SOCIAL AFFILIATION STEREOTYPED CALLS VANCOUVER-ISLAND BEHAVIOR ECHOLOCATION SIGNALS SONG CATEGORIZATION |
description |
Public signaling plays an important role in territorial and sexual displays in animals; however, in certain situations, it is advantageous to keep signaling private to prevent eavesdropping by unintended receivers. In the northeastern Pacific, two populations of killer whales (Orcinus orca), fish-eating "resident" killer whales and mammal-eating "transient" killer whales, share the same habitat. Previous studies have shown that residents use whistles as private signals during close-range communication, where they probably serve to coordinate behavioral interactions. Here, we investigated the whistling behavior of mammal-eating killer whales, and, based on divergent social structures and social behaviors between residents and transients, we predicted to find differences in both whistle usage and whistle parameters. Our results show that, like resident killer whales, transients produce both variable and stereotyped whistles. However, clear differences in whistle parameters between ecotypes show that the whistle repertoire of mammal-eating killer whales is clearly distinct from and less complex than that of fish-eating killer whales. Furthermore, mammal-eating killer whales only produce whistles during "milling after kill" and "surface-active" behaviors, but are almost completely silent during all other activities. Nonetheless, whistles of transient killer whales may still serve a role similar to that of resident killer whales. Mammal-eating killer whales seem to be under strong selection to keep their communication private from potential prey (whose hearing ranges overlap with that of killer whales), and they appear to accomplish this mainly by restricting vocal activity rather than by changes in whistle parameters. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Riesch, Ruediger Deecke, Volker B. |
author_facet |
Riesch, Ruediger Deecke, Volker B. |
author_sort |
Riesch, Ruediger |
title |
Whistle communication in mammal-eating killer whales (Orcinus orca):further evidence for acoustic divergence between ecotypes |
title_short |
Whistle communication in mammal-eating killer whales (Orcinus orca):further evidence for acoustic divergence between ecotypes |
title_full |
Whistle communication in mammal-eating killer whales (Orcinus orca):further evidence for acoustic divergence between ecotypes |
title_fullStr |
Whistle communication in mammal-eating killer whales (Orcinus orca):further evidence for acoustic divergence between ecotypes |
title_full_unstemmed |
Whistle communication in mammal-eating killer whales (Orcinus orca):further evidence for acoustic divergence between ecotypes |
title_sort |
whistle communication in mammal-eating killer whales (orcinus orca):further evidence for acoustic divergence between ecotypes |
publishDate |
2011 |
url |
https://risweb.st-andrews.ac.uk/portal/en/researchoutput/whistle-communication-in-mammaleating-killer-whales-orcinus-orca(b8404f47-b8ba-4499-838d-42c2bd71dc49).html https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-011-1148-8 |
geographic |
Pacific |
geographic_facet |
Pacific |
genre |
Orca Orcinus orca |
genre_facet |
Orca Orcinus orca |
op_source |
Riesch , R & Deecke , V B 2011 , ' Whistle communication in mammal-eating killer whales (Orcinus orca) : further evidence for acoustic divergence between ecotypes ' , Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology , vol. 65 , no. 7 , pp. 1377-1387 . https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-011-1148-8 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-011-1148-8 |
container_title |
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology |
container_volume |
65 |
container_issue |
7 |
container_start_page |
1377 |
op_container_end_page |
1387 |
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1766161364459454464 |