Document Detail


Individual right whales call louder in increased environmental noise.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20610418     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
The ability to modify vocalizations to compensate for environmental noise is critical for successful communication in a dynamic acoustic environment. Many marine species rely on sound for vital life functions including communication, navigation and feeding. The impacts of significant increases in ocean noise levels from human activities are a current area of concern for the conservation of marine mammals. Here, we document changes in calling behaviour by individual endangered North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) in increased background noise. Right whales, like several bird and primate species, respond to periods of increased noise by increasing the amplitude of their calls. This behaviour may help maintain the communication range with conspecifics during periods of increased noise. These call modifications have implications for conservation efforts for right whales, affecting both the way whales use sound to communicate and our ability to detect them with passive acoustic monitoring systems.
Authors:
Susan E Parks; Mark Johnson; Douglas Nowacek; Peter L Tyack
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.     Date:  2010-07-07
Journal Detail:
Title:  Biology letters     Volume:  7     ISSN:  1744-957X     ISO Abbreviation:  Biol. Lett.     Publication Date:  2011 Feb 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-01-13     Completed Date:  2011-05-10     Revised Date:  2012-02-23    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  101247722     Medline TA:  Biol Lett     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  33-5     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Applied Research Laboratory, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16804, USA. sep20@psu.edu
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Animals
Female
Male
Noise, Transportation*
Vocalization, Animal / physiology*
Whales / physiology*

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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