Frequency synchronization of blue whale calls near Pioneer Seamount.
J Acoust Soc Am
; 128(1): 490-4, 2010 Jul.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-20649243
Vocalizations of blue whales were recorded with a cabled hydrophone array at Pioneer Seamount, 50 miles off the California coast. Most calls occurred in repeated sequences of two-call pairs (A, then B). The B call is a frequency-modulated tone highly repeatable in form and pitch. A model of this sound is described which permits detecting very small frequency shifts. B calls are found to be aligned in frequency to about one part in 180. This requires very fine pitch discrimination and control over calling frequency, and suggests that synchronizing to a common frequency pattern carries some adaptive advantage. Some possibilities for acoustic sensing by whales requiring this fine frequency resolution are discussed.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Vocalization, Animal
/
Balaenoptera
Type of study:
Prognostic_studies
Limits:
Animals
Country/Region as subject:
America do norte
Language:
En
Journal:
J Acoust Soc Am
Year:
2010
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States
Country of publication:
United States