The relationship of social vocalizations to surface behavior and aggression in the Hawaiian humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)

Abstract

Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) social vocalizations (nonsong sounds) were clearly related to whale group size and surface activity. Social sounds occurred almost exclusively in groups containing three or more whales and were rarely heard near single whales, pairs, or cow–calf groups. Large groups (3 to 20 individuals) vocalized at an overall mean rate of 43.1 ± 55.52 sounds per whale/h. Group size changed frequently and a dramatic increase in vocalization rate resulted when a new whale entered a group. Large groups engaged in flurries of surface activity, such as breaching, flipper- and tail-slapping, and underwater bubbling. Aggressive encounters resulted from male–male interaction. Social sounds probably acted to demonstrate aggression or agitation as adult males competed for temporary social dominance within the group and for proximity to the female. Likewise, visual displays may have been used as threats in close quarters and were apparently produced in conjunction with sounds to convey levels of aggression. Although other studies suggested that surface activity increased with group size, I found a negative correlation between activity and group size, both in the group as a whole and per individual. In contrast, social vocalizations per group increased with group size while the vocalization rate per individual did not vary significantly with increasing group size.