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#marinemammals

16 posts14 participants2 posts today
Public
Kate :verigold:

[Wams et al.] Singers of the high Arctic; Seasonal acoustic presence of bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) around Svalbard, Norway nature.com/articles/s41598-025 🐋 #Cetaceans #MarineMammals #MarineLife #MarineBiology #Whales #Science

NatureSingers of the high Arctic; Seasonal acoustic presence of bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) around Svalbard, Norway - Scientific ReportsThe bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) is an Arctic endemic cetacean that spends its entire life in Arctic waters, living in tight association with sea ice. In this study, passive acoustic data recorded between 2017 and 2022 at six locations around the Svalbard Archipelago, Norway, were analysed for the seasonal and spatial vocal occurrence of this endangered bowhead whale stock, using a combination of Long-Term Spectral Averages and visual/auditory verification. The results were subsequently correlated to seasonal patterns in environmental conditions. Bowhead whale vocalizations were detected at all study sites, but there was significant variation between locations and years in acoustic presence and singing behaviour. Consistent, high detection rates of singing west and east of Svalbard suggest that these sites serve as key areas for overwintering and breeding. The lower and fluctuating detection rates north of Svalbard suggest that this area serves as a movement corridor between regions. Significant positive correlations between bowhead whale acoustic activity and high sea ice concentrations emphasizes their ice-affiliated nature. This study provides novel information on the distribution and habitat use of bowhead whales in the Svalbard area and raises concern for the future of this population, in an Arctic that is experiencing rapid sea ice habitat loss.
Public
Kate :verigold:

[Morris et al.] Experimental observation of gray whale skull vibrations amplified in the bony hearing complex nature.com/articles/s41598-025 🐋 #Cetaceans #MarineMammals #MarineLife #MarineBiology #Whales #Science

NatureExperimental observation of gray whale skull vibrations amplified in the bony hearing complex - Scientific ReportsMysticete whales have bilateral bony ear complexes (tympanoperiotic complexes) that amplify low frequency vibrations in proximity to their vocalization ranges. Understanding the functional mechanics would enable precise predictions of mysticete hearing sensitivity, which is currently unknown. We conducted experiments on a juvenile and an adult gray whale skull from deceased animals to measure the vibrational dynamics between the tympanic bullae and the skull. Relative motions between bullae and skull indicate sound transfer to the inner ear. For the juvenile, assessments were performed on (1) a 3D-printed plastic skull-replica, (2) the original skull after much of the soft tissue had been removed by dissection, and (3) the denuded skull after hydrogen peroxide was used to erode the remaining soft tissues. We excited vibrations in the juvenile skull underwater by projecting sound in a test pool, ranging from 170–1000 Hz. Additionally, we measured in-air vibrations of the plastic, denuded, and adult skulls using a mechanical shaker to drive vibrations anteroposteriorly (rostrum-to-tail) from 150–1000 Hz. The results consistently showed amplification of vibrations at the tympanic bullae compared to the base of the skull, demonstrating a mechanism by which low-frequency sound is transferred from the environment, through the skull, to the inner ear.
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Kate :verigold:

[Möllhoff & Bean] Fin whale song recordings by onshore seismometers open new horizons for cetacean coastal monitoring nature.com/articles/s41598-025 🐋 #Cetaceans #MarineMammals #MarineLife #MarineBiology #Whales

NatureFin whale song recordings by onshore seismometers open new horizons for cetacean coastal monitoring - Scientific ReportsFin whales, the second largest animal on Earth, produce one of the most intense vocalisations in the animal kingdom. Monitoring these songs using ocean-deployed hydrophones plays an important role in the study of fin whale distribution and social behaviour, though obtaining real-time data remains challenging. In this feasibility study we investigate if vocalising near-coastal fin whales can be widely detected and located with onshore seismometers. Inspecting data from pre-existing seismic installations we establish that fin whale song can be detected with onshore seismometers up to 5.5 km inland, across multiple marine environments, globally. Individual creatures can be located and tracked through the analysis of seismic wave properties. Furthermore, we show that citizen science seismometers, such as the affordable and widely deployed ‘Raspberry Shake’ devices, can reliably detect fin whale song. These instruments, often placed in coastal areas, provide real-time data, offering a cost-effective and accessible method for monitoring coastal fin whale activity. The revelation that human living spaces are ensonified by fin whale song offers the potential to enhance public engagement with the oceans and presents new opportunities for global monitoring. Fin whales are vulnerable to noise pollution, shipping strikes and entanglement in fishing gear. The use of terrestrial seismometers could improve early warning systems and contribute to richer datasets on near coastal whale vocalisations. This study demonstrates that, globally, seismic data holds significant untapped potential for near-coastal fin whale monitoring.
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