Trumpet sounds emitted by male sperm whales in the Mediterranean Sea

Abstract Sperm whale trumpets are sounds only occasionally documented, with a well recognisable and stereotyped acoustic arrangement. This study investigated the acoustic features of the trumpets and the context in which these sounds were recorded, using acoustic data collected over 22 years, in the...

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Autores principales: D. S. Pace, C. Lanfredi, S. Airoldi, G. Giacomini, M. Silvestri, G. Pavan, D. Ardizzone
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Publicado: Nature Portfolio 2021
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Acceso en línea:https://doaj.org/article/71541ccd99b543ecb4b850bc3e3dcc62
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spelling oai:doaj.org-article:71541ccd99b543ecb4b850bc3e3dcc622021-12-02T15:52:29ZTrumpet sounds emitted by male sperm whales in the Mediterranean Sea10.1038/s41598-021-84126-82045-2322https://doaj.org/article/71541ccd99b543ecb4b850bc3e3dcc622021-03-01T00:00:00Zhttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-84126-8https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322Abstract Sperm whale trumpets are sounds only occasionally documented, with a well recognisable and stereotyped acoustic arrangement. This study investigated the acoustic features of the trumpets and the context in which these sounds were recorded, using acoustic data collected over 22 years, in the Pelagos Sanctuary area (North-Western Mediterranean Sea). Analysed trumpets (n = 230), recorded at the beginning of a dive after the whale fluke-up, comprised a series of acoustic units organized in short sequences. Acoustic parameters were derived for the entire trumpet and for each distinguishable unit in a trumpet. Overall, trumpet durations and their initial frequencies were higher in recordings collected when multiple whales were visually or acoustically detected in the observation area. The identity of 68 whales was assessed through photo-identification, with 29 individuals producing trumpets within and between years. The variability of the acoustic parameters appeared to be higher within the same individuals rather than between different individuals, suggesting an individual plasticity in composing and arranging units in a trumpet. Different click patterns were observed before and after the trumpets, with more complex sequences when (1) other whales were visually/acoustically detected, and (2) individuals were in suitable foraging sites (i.e., canyon areas). Trumpets were commonly followed or preceded by click patterns suited for communication, such as codas and/or slow clicks. Significant relations between the trumpet emission and the male-only long-range communication click pattern (i.e. slow clicks) emerged, supporting the hypothesis that a trumpet is a sound emitted by maturing/mature males in feeding grounds. This study provides the first evidence that trumpets were conserved in the sperm whale acoustic repertoire at the decadal timescale, persisting across years and individuals in the same area. This persistence may be functionally specific to foraging activities performed by males in a well-established feeding area.D. S. PaceC. LanfrediS. AiroldiG. GiacominiM. SilvestriG. PavanD. ArdizzoneNature PortfolioarticleMedicineRScienceQENScientific Reports, Vol 11, Iss 1, Pp 1-16 (2021)
institution DOAJ
collection DOAJ
language EN
topic Medicine
R
Science
Q
spellingShingle Medicine
R
Science
Q
D. S. Pace
C. Lanfredi
S. Airoldi
G. Giacomini
M. Silvestri
G. Pavan
D. Ardizzone
Trumpet sounds emitted by male sperm whales in the Mediterranean Sea
description Abstract Sperm whale trumpets are sounds only occasionally documented, with a well recognisable and stereotyped acoustic arrangement. This study investigated the acoustic features of the trumpets and the context in which these sounds were recorded, using acoustic data collected over 22 years, in the Pelagos Sanctuary area (North-Western Mediterranean Sea). Analysed trumpets (n = 230), recorded at the beginning of a dive after the whale fluke-up, comprised a series of acoustic units organized in short sequences. Acoustic parameters were derived for the entire trumpet and for each distinguishable unit in a trumpet. Overall, trumpet durations and their initial frequencies were higher in recordings collected when multiple whales were visually or acoustically detected in the observation area. The identity of 68 whales was assessed through photo-identification, with 29 individuals producing trumpets within and between years. The variability of the acoustic parameters appeared to be higher within the same individuals rather than between different individuals, suggesting an individual plasticity in composing and arranging units in a trumpet. Different click patterns were observed before and after the trumpets, with more complex sequences when (1) other whales were visually/acoustically detected, and (2) individuals were in suitable foraging sites (i.e., canyon areas). Trumpets were commonly followed or preceded by click patterns suited for communication, such as codas and/or slow clicks. Significant relations between the trumpet emission and the male-only long-range communication click pattern (i.e. slow clicks) emerged, supporting the hypothesis that a trumpet is a sound emitted by maturing/mature males in feeding grounds. This study provides the first evidence that trumpets were conserved in the sperm whale acoustic repertoire at the decadal timescale, persisting across years and individuals in the same area. This persistence may be functionally specific to foraging activities performed by males in a well-established feeding area.
format article
author D. S. Pace
C. Lanfredi
S. Airoldi
G. Giacomini
M. Silvestri
G. Pavan
D. Ardizzone
author_facet D. S. Pace
C. Lanfredi
S. Airoldi
G. Giacomini
M. Silvestri
G. Pavan
D. Ardizzone
author_sort D. S. Pace
title Trumpet sounds emitted by male sperm whales in the Mediterranean Sea
title_short Trumpet sounds emitted by male sperm whales in the Mediterranean Sea
title_full Trumpet sounds emitted by male sperm whales in the Mediterranean Sea
title_fullStr Trumpet sounds emitted by male sperm whales in the Mediterranean Sea
title_full_unstemmed Trumpet sounds emitted by male sperm whales in the Mediterranean Sea
title_sort trumpet sounds emitted by male sperm whales in the mediterranean sea
publisher Nature Portfolio
publishDate 2021
url https://doaj.org/article/71541ccd99b543ecb4b850bc3e3dcc62
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