Animal-borne tags provide insights into the acoustic communication of southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) on the calving grounds
Abstract
This study investigated the repertoire, call-type variability and call rates of southern right whales on a calving ground off Brazil in the western South Atlantic. Acoustic tag data were collected from four lactating females and one juvenile. Pulsive, hybrid, and upcalls showed the greatest variability among call-types with up to 23% of non-standard forms detected. Quiet sounds (grunt, single, and double pulse) were detected for the first time in this species on the calving grounds. Although the sample size was limited, results suggest that social interaction increased call-type diversity and call rates, in line with other acoustic studies on right whales.
Citation
Dombroski , J R G , Parks , S E , Flores , P A C , Martín López , L M , Shorter , K A & Groch , K R 2020 , ' Animal-borne tags provide insights into the acoustic communication of southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) on the calving grounds ' , Journal of the Acoustical Society of America , vol. 147 , no. 6 , pp. EL498-EL503 . https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0001391
Publication
Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
Status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
0001-4966Type
Journal article
Description
Funding: This study was supported by the Marine Mammal Commission under Grant No. MMC17-230. Additional support was provided by Cetacean Society International and VIVA Baleias, golfinhos ecia.Collections
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