Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) Song on a Subarctic Feeding Ground

Abstract

Male humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) are known to produce long complex sequences of structured vocalizations called song. Singing behavior has traditionally been associated with low latitude breeding grounds but is increasingly reported outside these areas. This study provides the first report of humpback whale songs in the subarctic waters of Northern Norway using a long-term bottom-moored hydrophone. Data processed included the months January–June 2018 and December 2018–January 2019. Out of 189 days with recordings, humpback whale singing was heard on 79 days. Singing was first detected beginning of January 2018 with a peak in February and was heard until mid-April. No singing activity was found during the summer months and was heard again in December 2018, continuing over January 2019. A total of 131 song sessions, including 35 full sessions, were identified throughout the study period. The longest and shortest complete sessions lasted 815 and 13 min, respectively. The results confirm that singing can be heard over several months in winter and spring on a high latitude feeding ground. This provides additional evidence to the growing literature that singing is not an explicit behavior confined to low latitude breeding grounds. The peak of song occurrence in February appears to coincide with the reproductive cycle of humpback whales. Finally, this study indicates that song occurrence on a subarctic feeding ground likely aids the cultural transmission for the North Atlantic humpback whale population.

The migratory whale herd concept: A novel unit to conserve under the ecological paradigm

“…Darling et al (2019aDarling et al ( , 2022 concluded that these observations are indicative of ocean basin-wide panmixia, on the assumption that they could only result from extensive exchange of singing males between wintering areas. However, though singing was once thought to be largely confined to wintering grounds (Charif et al, 2001;Clapham & Mattila, 1990), we now know that humpback whales sing both on their feeding grounds late in the season and on migration (Clark & Clapham, 2004;Magnúsd ottir et al, 2014;Mattila et al, 1987;Noad & Cato, 2007;Norris et al, 1999;Schall et al, 2022;Stimpert et al, 2012;Tyarks et al, 2021;Vu et al, 2012), providing a mechanism for transmission of songs among winter areas in the absence of direct exchange of individuals between wintering grounds (Garland et al, 2013;Owen et al, 2019). Rapid annual shifts in humpback whale song, called song "revolutions," have been attributed to exposure to song from other populations, either on the feeding ground or migratory route (Garland et al, 2011(Garland et al, , 2013Owen et al, 2019;Tyarks et al, 2022) or due to the movement of a small number of males between wintering areas (Allen et al, 2018;Noad et al, 2000).…”

Changes in humpback whale song structure and complexity reveal a rapid evolution on a feeding ground in Northern Norway

“…This migration route and feeding ground off Norway's coast has shown to be shared with an interchange of different humpback breeding populations from Cape Verde (Africa) and the West Indies (America; Beŕubéet al, 2004;Stevick et al, 2016;Stevick et al, 2018;Whaletrack UiT, 2018;Wenzel et al, 2020). Given the identified humpback whale song occurrence in Northern Norway as described in Tyarks et al (2021), this might indicate a potential for acoustic interaction between the two breeding populations. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the song structure and complexity and to find evidence of humpback whale song evolution on this subarctic feeding ground and migratory passage route.…”

“…Data used in this study were collected by Node 1(Equinor and IMR, 2020). Produced by Geir Pedersen and reprinted with permission fromTyarks et al, 2021 (Copyright 2021.…”

Seasonal acoustic presence of marine mammals at the South Orkney Islands, Scotia Sea

“…The vocal repertoire of a species can be determined by both sex and sexual maturity, and the degree of vocalization may vary between seasons [ 25 , 53 – 55 ]. For example, while humpback whales produce many different types of social calls, only male humpbacks are known to produce highly complex, long-lasting songs associated with breeding and migration [ 54 , 56 , 57 ]. By contrast, male blue whales and fin whales produce simple low-frequency calls [ 2 , 22 , 52 ].…”