Non-song vocalizations of pygmy blue whales in Geographe Bay, Western Australia

J Acoust Soc Am. 2014 May;135(5):EL213-8. doi: 10.1121/1.4871581.

Abstract

Non-song vocalizations of migrating pygmy blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) in Western Australia are described. Simultaneous land-based visual observations and underwater acoustic recordings detected 27 groups in Geographe Bay, WA over 2011 to 2012. Six different vocalizations were recorded that were not repeated in a pattern or in association with song, and thus were identified as non-song vocalizations. Five of these were not previously described for this population. Their acoustic characteristics and context are presented. Given that 56% of groups vocalized, 86% of which produced non-song vocalizations and 14% song units, the inclusion of non-song vocalizations in passive-acoustic monitoring is proposed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acoustics
  • Animal Migration
  • Animals
  • Australia
  • Balaenoptera / physiology*
  • Balaenoptera / psychology
  • Sound Spectrography
  • Time Factors
  • Vocalization, Animal / physiology*