01591nas a2200205 4500008004100000245006900041210006900110260001600179520096600195653002101161653001901182653002901201653001501230653002101245653001001266100002101276700002801297700001701325856004301342 2018 eng d00aIncorporating tides into the acoustic ecology of humpback whales0 aIncorporating tides into the acoustic ecology of humpback whales cOct-10-20193 a
North Pacific humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) migrate annually to foraging grounds in Southeast Alaska that are characterized by semidiurnal tidal cycles. Tidal activity is an important driver of marine mammal behavior on foraging grounds, but is often omitted in studies of acoustic ecology. To better understand the role of sound in this vocal species we investigated the influence of tidal height and direction on humpback whale nonsong calling behavior in Frederick Sound and described new call types for this population. The likelihood of detecting a call from the low‐frequency‐harmonic, pulsed, or noisy‐complex call classes was independent of tidal activity. The likelihood of detecting a call from the tonal call class, and a feeding call in particular, was 2.1 times higher during flood tides than during ebb tides (95% CI 1.1–4.4). This likely reflects an indirect relationship between humpback whale foraging and tides.
10aacoustic ecology10ahumpback whale10aMegaptera novaean- gliae10arepertoire10aSoutheast Alaska10atides1 aBarlow, Dawn, R.1 aFournet, Michelle, E.H.1 aSharpe, Fred uhttp://doi.wiley.com/10.1111/mms.12534