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dc.contributor.advisorMiller, Patrick
dc.contributor.advisorHarwood, John
dc.contributor.authorSamarra, Filipa Isabel Pereira
dc.coverage.spatialxi, 141en_US
dc.date.accessioned2012-04-18T14:16:02Z
dc.date.available2012-04-18T14:16:02Z
dc.date.issued2011-11
dc.identifieruk.bl.ethos.552678
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10023/2564
dc.description.abstractThis study aimed to investigate possible functions of the sounds produced by herring-eating killer whales in the Northeast Atlantic. In this study, I investigated the whistle repertoire of killer whales, which had previously only been studied in British Columbia, where it appeared to be restricted to the audible range. However, I show that high frequency whistles (> 17 kHz) were detected in Northeast Atlantic populations but not in Northeast Pacific populations. These results indicated substantial intraspecific variation in whistle production in killer whales. Little variation was observed in high frequency whistles recorded from three different sites in the Northeast Atlantic, suggesting this signal has a similar function across locations. The estimated active space of high frequency whistles and burst-pulse calls suggested that these are short-range signals used for within-group communication. Source levels of burst-pulse calls were lower than what was previously described in British Columbia, which possibly reflected the fact that these sounds do not need to propagate far because distances between group members are generally short. Calls, high frequency whistles and herding calls produced at different depths did not appear to suffer effects due to increased pressure, such as changing frequency or duration characteristics. Feeding appeared to take place below 10 m of depth, as suggested by the localisation of depth of production of feeding-related sounds. These depths were consistent with those at which tailslaps were produced in Dtags attached to individual whales. Feeding periods were characterised by deep diving, increased sound production and highly non-directional movement. These findings suggested that killer whales in a herring spawning ground use a feeding strategy different from carousel feeding used in herring overwintering grounds. These findings showed that Northeast Atlantic killer whales have a different sound repertoire to other populations, and suggested that they may employ different feeding strategies depending on prey behaviour.en_US
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherUniversity of St Andrews
dc.subject.lccQL737.C432S2
dc.subject.lcshKiller whale--Vocalizationen_US
dc.subject.lcshKiller whale--Behavioren_US
dc.subject.lcshKiller whale--Fooden_US
dc.titleFunctional design and use of acoustic signals produced by killer whales (Orcinus orca)en_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.type.qualificationlevelDoctoralen_US
dc.type.qualificationnamePhD Doctor of Philosophyen_US
dc.publisher.institutionThe University of St Andrewsen_US


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