A new look at universals and specificities in the songs of humpback whales.

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:2021
Authors:Fragaszy
Journal:Journal of Comparative Psychology
Volume:135
Issue:1
Pagination:25 - 27
Date Published:Jan-02-2021
ISSN:0735-7036
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In this issue’s featured article, Mercado and Perazio (2021) describe songs of humpback whales using acoustic qualities, in part to determine the degree of similarity in songs across time and space that have not been revealed by information-theoretic analyses. They are particularly interested in evaluating alternative explanations of song variations in humpback whales. They argue that if humpback whales’ songs “are . . . transmitted through acoustic contact followed by imitation” (p. 29) then (a) songs of populations not in acoustic contact should diverge, (b) songs of the same population should diverge increasingly over time, and (c) song forms separated by multiple decades either within or across populations should be dissimilar. Alternatively, acoustic similarities in song structure across populations and/or across decades in the same population would challenge the hypothesis that socially mediated learning is the primary driver of variation in the structure of humpback whales’ songs over time. If that is the case, then identifying universal properties of song composition is important to move the field forward. Broadening the analytical tool kit can help in this effort.

URL:http://doi.apa.org/getdoi.cfm?doi=10.1037/com0000270
DOI:10.1037/com0000270
Short Title:Journal of Comparative Psychology
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Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith