CHARACTERISTICS OF FINBACKBALAENOPTERA PHYSALUSVOCALIZATIONS IN THE ST. LAWRENCE ESTUARY
- 1 January 1988
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis Ltd in Bioacoustics
- Vol. 1 (2-3), 131-149
- https://doi.org/10.1080/09524622.1988.9753087
Abstract
Sounds produced by Finback Whales Balaenoptera physalus were recorded from a stationary hydrophone in the St. Lawrence Estuary from June to September. The vocalizations consisted of frequencies below 120 Hz; impulsive sounds had frequencies up to 1 kHz. Over 80% of the sounds were downsweeping calls. Frequency variations in the downsweeps were correlated with social context. Constant calls, upsweeps, wavers and a frequency and amplitude modulated call were rare and may be context specific. Vocalization rates varied with the number of animals present and context, but could not be used as a census technique. Comparisons are made with the data from other investigators in both the Northwest Atlantic and the Northeast Pacific. Frequency and time characteristics for Finback downsweeps are summarized and discussed as components important for species recognition.Keywords
This publication has 10 references indexed in Scilit:
- The 20-Hz signals of finback whales (B a l a e n o p t e r a p h y s a l u s)The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 1987
- Occurrence and general behavior of balaenopterid cetaceans summering in the St. Lawrence Estuary, CanadaCanadian Journal of Zoology, 1987
- The relationship of social vocalizations to surface behavior and aggression in the Hawaiian humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)Canadian Journal of Zoology, 1986
- Differential response of humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae, to playback of song or social soundsBehavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 1983
- Vocalizations of the Blue Whale, Balaenoptera musculus, in the St. Lawrence RiverJournal of Mammalogy, 1982
- Sound Playback Experiments with Southern Right Whales ( Eubalaena australis )Science, 1980
- Mysticete SoundsPublished by Springer Science and Business Media LLC ,1979
- On the Occurrence and Significance of Motivation-Structural Rules in Some Bird and Mammal SoundsThe American Naturalist, 1977
- On Individuality: The Constituents of DistinctivenessPublished by Springer Science and Business Media LLC ,1976
- 20-Hz Signals Observed in the Central PacificThe Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 1968