 Similar reports available for purchase |  | |  |
|
 |
 |
 Optics and Acoustics Acoustics |
 |
|
Acoustic Communication in the North Atlantic Right Whale (Eubalaena glacialis)
Authors: Susan E. Parks; MASSACHUSETTS INST OF TECH CAMBRIDGE |
| |
Abstract: The focus of this thesis is the use of sound for communication by the North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis). The surface active group (SAG) is the predominant social interaction in this species for which use of sound has been documented. Different group compositions in SAGs indicate that both potentially reproductive and non-reproductive groups have been combined under one label. Sound production in SAGs suggests that females form and maintain the groups by producing Scream calls. Males produce Upcalls and Gunshot sounds. Some calves produce Warble sounds in SAGs. Acoustic recordings confirm that SAGs are complex interactions between individuals, rather than simple groups with only one whale producing all the sounds to attract other whales to the group. Playback experiments demonstrate that right whales can use sounds from SAGs to locate the groups. Male right whales approached both North Atlantic and Southern right whale SAG playbacks. Female right whales only approached Southern right whale playbacks. Anatomical modeling resulted in a frequency range of hearing for the right whale (10 Hz - 22 kHz) that is consistent with the sounds that they produce and overlaps the frequency range of most anthropogenic noise sources. This combination of research provides a thorough description how North Atlantic right whales use sound in SAGs and how increasing levels of noise in the oceans may impact right whales in these groups. (25 tables, 68 figures, chapter refs.)
| Description: |
Doctoral thesis |
| Pages: |
270 |
| Report Date: |
SEP 2003 |
| Report Number: |
A637714 |
Report Unavailable |
| This title is unavailable from Storming Media. We do not know when it might be available, if at all. We list the report on our site for bibliographic completeness, to help our users know what other work has been performed in this field. Please note that as with all titles on this site, we do not have contact information for any of the authors. Nor can we give any suggestions on how one might obtain this report. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
Keywords relating to this report:
Email This Abstract