Humpback whales match song themes to dive phases, tags reveal
Researchers have discovered a link between the specific song themes of humpback whales and their physical dive phases. Using noninvasive suction-cup tags, the study provides new insights into the energy management and behavioral ecology of these marine mammals.
Why it matters
Understanding whale behavior helps scientists mitigate the impact of human-made underwater noise and vessel traffic on marine life conservation.
edited by Sadie Harley , reviewed by Robert Egan
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Add as preferred source Researchers attaching a suction-cup recording tag to a humpback whale off the coast of Maui. Credit: Julia Zeh; NOAA NMFS Permit #19655 and #26593 For male humpback whales, singing is serious business. Their haunting, complex songs can last for hours and travel for miles underwater, playing a central role in reproduction during the winter breeding season. But despite decades of research into what these songs sound like, scientists have had far less insight into what the whales are physically doing while they sing.
Understanding that connection could reveal how singing affects a whale's energy use, oxygen management and vulnerability to underwater noise and vessel strikes.
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