BIOL 329 Lecture Notes - Lecture 34: Low Frequency, Toothed Whale, Balaenoptera
8 May 2018
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Lect 34
Soundscape mapping: geophonies, biophonies, anthrophonies. Often used in terrestrial settings (e.g.
city planning).
Underwater noise: sound propagates further. Sounds can be classified into 5 frequency bands. Low
frequency sounds travel the furthest.
Acoustics in the water = limited visibility, other sensory info limitd, travel further and faster than air,
SOFAR / deep water channel.
Why make noise? Communication, retaining contact with others, signalling, display of reproductive
fitness.
Odontocetes: toothed whales, smaller and faster moving single blowhole, acoustic.
Killer Whales (Orcinus orca): a Delphinid (dolphin), resident, transient and offshore populations,
differentiate by prey, dorsal fin shape and saddle patch, social structure. No interbreeding between
different groups.
Pacific white-sided dolphins (Lagenirhynchis obliquidens): Delphinid, often seen in groups, inshore and
offshore.
Dall’s porpoise Phooenoides dalli: fastest etaean in BC, often onfused with killer whales, ow
riders, hybrids seen.
Harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena): elusive species, in small groups, acoustically sensitive, hybrids
seen.
Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus): 1/3 of body is head, long time at surface, long time
underwater. Blow forward and left.
Melon: sac full of liquid fat. 2 nostrils – one for respiration, one branches off to create squeak which is
concentrated by melon and creates sound.
Toothed whale communication: biosonar / echolocation, prey location, communication, ecotype
specialities, echolocation vs cryptic clicks.
Tell group membership by the codas heard.
Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae): dorsal fin rests on a hump, often solitary but feeding can
occur in groups, migrator, acrobatic.
Gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus): solitary feeders/travellers, the eastern Pacific population recovering
after cessation of commercial whaling, benthic feeders.
Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata): elusive species, solitary, smallest baleen whale.
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Document Summary
Often used in terrestrial settings (e. g. city planning). Sounds can be classified into 5 frequency bands. Acoustics in the water = limited visibility, other sensory info limitd, travel further and faster than air, Communication, retaining contact with others, signalling, display of reproductive fitness. Odontocetes: toothed whales, smaller and faster moving single blowhole, acoustic. Killer whales (orcinus orca): a delphinid (dolphin), resident, transient and offshore populations, differentiate by prey, dorsal fin shape and saddle patch, social structure. Pacific white-sided dolphins (lagenirhynchis obliquidens): delphinid, often seen in groups, inshore and offshore. Dall"s porpoise (cid:894)pho(cid:272)oenoides dalli(cid:895): fastest (cid:272)eta(cid:272)ean in bc, often (cid:272)onfused with killer whales, (cid:271)ow riders, hybrids seen. Harbour porpoise (phocoena phocoena): elusive species, in small groups, acoustically sensitive, hybrids seen. Sperm whales (physeter macrocephalus): 1/3 of body is head, long time at surface, long time underwater. 2 nostrils one for respiration, one branches off to create squeak which is concentrated by melon and creates sound.
