Researchers in Kamchatka, Russia have recently discovered the secret behind the haunting and complex songs produced by some of the largest whales in the ocean. A team of scientists, led by Prof Coen Elemans from the University of Southern Denmark, has unraveled the mystery of how baleen whales, such as humpbacks, produce their underwater songs, which are essential for their survival and communication.
In a groundbreaking study, researchers found that baleen whales have a specialized “voice box” structure in their throat that enables them to produce their unique songs. The study revealed that these whales rely on sound to find each other for mating and socializing, and the narrow frequency of their songs overlaps with the noise produced by ships, posing a threat to their communication and survival.
This discovery sheds light on how ocean noise pollution can impact the ability of whales to communicate over long distances, potentially affecting the conservation efforts for humpbacks, blue whales, and other endangered whale species. The research also provides valuable insights into the evolutionary adaptations that allowed the ancestors of whales to return to the oceans from the land and communicate underwater.
The study involved experiments using larynxes, or “voice boxes”, from stranded whales, including a minke, humpback, and sei whale. By blowing air through these structures, the researchers were able to demonstrate how the vocal anatomy of baleen whales allows them to sing by recycling air, preventing water from being inhaled, and producing sounds within a narrow frequency range.
Dr. Kate Stafford, a whale communication expert from Oregon State University, described the study as “groundbreaking” and emphasized the importance of understanding how marine mammals make sounds for advancing the field of marine mammal research. The study has provided a new perspective on the remarkable ability of baleen whales to produce complex vocal signals, highlighting their unique and special nature.