We will discover how whales communicate and the abilities they present when interacting with each other. Studies and research have helped to discover these interesting large marine animals. If you want to know more about its communication system, keep reading this article for more information.
How do whales communicate?
As every communication process presents a sender-message-receiver, in the same way it happens with the communication of the whales when they communicate with each other, they use a technique called echolocation that allows the whales to identify distances between them and their environment, if they are in a courtship process or there is imminent danger.
The sound emitted by the whale travels through the water as a wave. Its repetition and expansion will vary as it encounters various obstacles in its path and they bounce back giving very important information to the issuer.
What is echolocation for?
Whales do not have a developed ear, so this communication system is very advantageous for them, since it perceives the vibrations produced by the sound in the water on its skin, upon receiving this it answers through sound waves emitted on the surface. form and distance with which the sound collides.
This system allows you to maintain contact with each other, find out about possible risks or the location of lost groups or members, it also serves as a reference to locate specific groups since many are differentiated by their song.
Each species has different vocalizations or sounds and each one has a different purpose, including those used for communication and socialization, it is also used at the time of reproduction to find a mate and start courtship or fight between males.
Other advantages of this technique is the precision when locating a prey and heading towards them or, on the contrary, finding a predator or possible danger and fleeing from it, by having the exact distance in which they are located.
What is whale song?
Song is understood as the set of sounds transmitted by whales to communicate, it can be understood as a scheme of imaginable and monotonous sounds that some species emit similar to a human song.
Use of Song
The communication and the organic methods used for the emission of sounds change in each family of both cetaceans and baleen whales, but the conditions generated for their emission are the same for all. In water, sunlight has little absorption because its particles are very slow in water compared to air.
Poor lighting creates a big problem since it prevents visual communication for a considerable distance, the sense of smell is also compromised, so these marine animals depend on sound to indicate their feelings and needs.
The reasons why auditory communication is more effective is due to the fact that sound in water, being heavier, extends at a speed greater than 1.500 m/s in water compared to 340 m/s in air, since in the air by its elasticity spreads faster. Being its strong sound, it does not vary in power due to pressure. Whales manage to communicate over enormous distances.
Whales have a very sophisticated sense of hearing, especially the odontocetes. Studies show that apart from communication and socialization, it allows you to capture very accurately and calculate the distance and location of other animals and objects around you, information that makes it easier for you to orient yourself in the marine relief when emitting the song or sound.
sound production
We will make a comparison between the marked differences in both man and whales in the production of sound. People generate sound by exhaling air through the larynx. The vocal cords open or close as required, isolating the air current into small bundles that will be formed by the throat, tongue and lips for the emission of the desired sound.
In cetaceans, their system is completely different from the one explained above, the sound production of these animals presents a marked difference between odontocetes and baleen whales.
Sound Production in Toothed Whales
The sound is generated by passing air through three-dimensional formations in the head that make mention of people's nostrils and are called "phonic lips". Almost all toothed whales have these pairs of lips that allow them to form two sounds at the same time. When this movement is made, the wave is sent to the head to generate the sound, which travels in the indicated direction allowing its orientation by reflection (echo location).
The sound emitted by toothed whales is basically a high-frequency whistle, but its characteristics do not include whale song, which consists of long series of sounds. It generates short sounds (clicks), they are used for location (echo location), by means of tonal successions for their communication, little information is available on this process.
Toothed whale sound levels range in repetitions from 40 Hz to 325 kHz. We can mention the Sperm Whale Click with a range of 163 Hz to 223 kHz, the Beluga Click with a range of 206 Hz to 225 kHz.
Sound Production in Baleen Whales
Baleen whales have a larynx without vocal cords, they do not have phonic lips. Its sound generation system differs quite a bit from that of the human being since it is not necessary to carry out an exhalation process required to produce the sound. Until now there is no exact information on how they produce sounds. Empty cranial sinus openings located in the cranial bones are thought to play a role in voice.
The songs of baleen whales have a frequency that ranges between 10 Hz and 31 Hz. Mention is made of a whale that according to specialists is a baleen whale, has a song with a frequency radius of 52 Hz. animal 12 years ago, however, it has never been seen and there is no information if it is a known species or not.
Baleen whale sound levels range in repetitions from 10 Hz to 31 kHz. We can mention the moans of the fin whale its range is from 155 Hz to 186 kHz, the moan of the blue whale with a range of 155 Hz to 188 kHz, the moan of the gray whale with a range of 142 Hz to 185 kHz, tones, wails and songs of the bowhead whale with a range of 128 Hz to 189 kHz.
Differences between toothed and baleen whales in the emission of sounds
Toothed whales (including killer whales) use ultrasonic emission of sound waves (echolocation), which allows them to pinpoint the size and shape of objects. Baleen whales do not have this quality, it was believed that the emissions of their songs or sound frequencies were for the exclusive use of choosing a mate, some studies have allowed the development of ideas that through their song they can communicate other needs.
Baleen whales have a disadvantage compared to other marine species as they do not have good vision and smell in the marine environment and the ease with which the sound wave crosses the water plays a very important role in the life of this species, its strong sound allows you to distinguish distances and depths.
Song Structure
The sounds emitted by these animals present an organization of characteristic ranges. Being the notes the main unit of the song, they are diffusion of continuous individual sounds that have a duration of a few seconds. Its frequency range is between 20 Hz and 10 kHz.
The Unit of frequency can be classified according to its frequency distribution modulated by the repetition of the sound (the sound manages to increase, decrease or remain the same during the note) and amplitude modulated by the extension of the chord (it can increase or decrease its volume).
A repertoire of 4 to 6 units is called a subphrase, its duration is close to 10 seconds. The union of two subphrases generates a phrase. The phrase reproduction several times and at least between 2 to 4 minutes this process is called theme. A theme repertoire generates a song. This hierarchy has caught the attention of scientists.
A whale can repeat the same phrase for a time of 2 to 4 minutes and when the song occurs, it will sing it for an indefinite time as it can last from 20 minutes to hours or even days.
Whale songs develop gradually over time, generating changes in the intensity or amplitude of the sound. Groups that presented variation in their notes can be observed, ranging from an increase in frequency to gradually decreasing until becoming a constant note. Their rhythms also show changes over time.
The grouping of the whales by geographical areas allows them to assume similar characteristics with subtle variations between them, otherwise with groups from other areas the tune is completely different.
The songs transform over time, they do not reject old combinations of songs and studies have confirmed that they can find general schemes in a song, but the mixtures are not repeated.
In particular, the humpbacks have very peculiar characteristics and their songs attract attention since they distinguish the song they emit according to their needs, they can emit individual sounds without being part of a song. Apart from the known reasons (courtship, socialization) it also emits a sound to feed when making the bubble net, they use their song to stun their prey. It is a long and constant sound with a duration of 5 to 10 seconds.
Relationship with man and consequences
Through the use of hydrophones, scientists have been able to accurately establish the trajectory of these sounds, as well as to check how far and how fast this sound can travel in the ocean.
Observations carried out by Cornell University have been able to show that the sounds of the whales travel through the sea up to 3.000 km and provided information on the migratory path of the whales and mating through their song.
It was determined that the environmental and sonic pollution produced by man has altered the environment of the whales and the rest of the animals that inhabit the sea, reducing their spaces. These scientists believe that before man generated this pollution, sound traveled from end to end in the sea.
The noise produced by the boats gradually increases, causing noise pollution. This has the consequence that the space or level at which the whales can be heard is reduced, since their song is of significant importance for the well-being of the population.
The increase in marine traffic has caused many whales to change the repetition and extend the depth of their sounds in an attempt to be heard. It is thought that all these activities in the sea are generating stress in the animals and difficulty in their normal development, as they cannot communicate with each other, creating concern among scientists about the importance of whale song in the well-being of the population.
Study on the communication of whales
The loudest acoustic sample is produced by whales, large and complex mammals known for possessing an advanced technique of echolocation and the ability to express their needs through powerful songs.
Humpback whales
This species has been characterized by the emission of prolonged, energetic and complicated songs that result when air passes through its nasal cavity. Both genders can make songs, but it is the males that make the loudest and longest sounds.
Each whale presents a unique sound, a succession that varies in depth and repetition and that extends slowly over time, never repeating a sequence or song already sung. They manage to chant continuously up to a whole day in periods of 10 to 20 minutes.
The verbal communication system is the same as any other, the song of the whales represents a very important cultural mechanism. All whales can communicate by expressing themselves through vocalizations, in general they have the same way of communicating, but depending on the area they will show a characteristic model of the place where they live.
The songs are structured by themes, phrases and semi-phrases. The subphrase has a continuation of seconds and is developed by low frequency sounds (normally below 1500 Hz).
Another feature to highlight is that the whales in the same area sing the same song and that they all transform the songs at the same speed as the rest of their companions. Thus, it seems that everyone learns all the songs.
The variation and intensity of her song will be more complex during the winter time that she is in heat. When hunting food they make different sounds to use the bubble net. Each group presents a specific song that is different from other groups that are in other latitudes, a sound that gradually changes and that they will not use again.
Studies indicate that the males singing simultaneously around the female stimulates her ovulation process, the female through the song is informed of the male as his origin, position in the group, is showing to be prepared for mating and to compete with the other males.
In short, it can be said that it is a means of communication where several groups of the same species can interact and indicate location, if they have a partner, the mother-child relationship. They can make sounds similar to growls, bellows and barks.
Sounds can be classified into Wops, the sounds made between mother and child, and thwomps, the social calls to other members outside the mother-child relationship. Its song can be heard up to 100 miles away
The White Whales
This species is recognized for presenting a more advanced echolocation system among cetaceans that consists of sound reproduction to locate all objects and bodies in its marine space.
White whales produce sounds in order to communicate with their group and allow echolocation by detecting and deducing distances in their environment, this process is achieved by producing the sound an echo is produced that allows it to detect its distance and identify targets.
Through two points located in his phonic system that act in a synchronized way, it allows him to considerably develop his ability to control the emission of sounds. Through them you can indicate your situation and location of others.
In the observations made to the white whale, a total of 32 different types of sounds produced between two individuals of the same species were discovered, allowing a better understanding between species.
Another important revelation indicates that the young can produce characteristic sounds that adults cannot imitate, creating a bond and facilitating the connection between mother and child, a communication that will be effective for as long as it lasts under the mother's care.
They have a highly advanced hearing capacity, with great sensitivity to sounds in a wide frequency range and of a directional nature, which makes them particularly susceptible to noise pollution.
The constant exposure to which whales are subjected causes detrimental results in the conservation of these animals. Unfortunately they are bombarded by constant high-frequency waves generated by merchant ships, explosions from air guns from seismic investigations, all these cases contribute to noise pollution.
Blue whale
Its communication system is through the diversity of sounds that it emits known as songs, it includes buzzes, chirps and resonates to communicate with each other. At each stage of her life, especially at the time of reproduction. The noises emitted by the blue whale are impressive, strong and with a volume greater than 180 decibels, it is recognized for generating the loudest sound among all the creatures on the planet.
Communication through body language in whales
Whales also communicate through body language different feelings or reactions to particular events, by producing an unexpected burst through the spiracle (A spiracle is an opening in the upper part of the mammal's head) can indicate a warning to another , pound with its pectoral fins or tail to indicate excitement or aggression.
In humpback whales, the males compete with each other by headbutting each other to conquer the female. When the whale jumps out of the water and dives again it is used to show strength or send a message from a distance, it can also jump to scare or stun fish or indicate a change of skin.
The sense of sight is of great importance out of the water, visual stimulation is of great value at the moment of closeness or sexual differentiation. Tact through shows of affection to family members is also of great importance.
Sperm Whale
The sperm whale through its click has been of great interest to scientists who have studied precisely how to generate sounds. Generally their clicks are used for echolocation and generate the codas that they mostly use to maintain the social organization of female whales.
The air used to generate the click is minimal, even at depths of 2000 meters, where the volume of air is significantly compressed, the whales can modulate, with success. Their system of producing sounds is selective for different types of communication.
Basically the difference that occurs between these 2 types of communication is the difference in air within the nasal complex. Whales can talk to each other.
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