The relationship between the behavioral activity and the underwater vocalization of the beluga whale (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Delphinapterus leucas</Emphasis>) |
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Authors: | E M Panova R A Belikov A V Agafonov V M Bel’kovich |
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Institution: | 1.Faculty of Biology,Moscow State University,Moscow,Russia;2.Shirshov Institute of Oceanology,Russian Academy of Sciences,Moscow,Russia |
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Abstract: | The underwater vocalizations of the beluga whale summering in Onega Bay (64°24′N, 35°49′E) were recorded in June–July of 2008.
The vocalizations were classified into five major whistle types, four types of pulsed tones, click series, and noise vocalizations.
To determine the relationship between the behavioral activity and the underwater vocalizations, a total of fifty-one 2 minute-long
samples of the audio records were analyzed in the next six behavioral contexts: directional movements, quiet swimming, resting,
social interactions, individual hunting behavior, and the exploration of hydrophones by beluga whales. The overall vocalization
rate and the percentage of the main types of signals depend on the behavior of the belugas. We suggest that one of the whistle
types (the “stereotype whistle”) is used by belugas for long-distance communications, while other whistle types (with the
exception of “squeaks”) and three types of pulsed tones (with the exception of “vowels”) are used for short distance communication.
The percentage of “squeaks” and “vowels” was equally high in all the behavioral situations. Thus, we assume that “squeaks”
are contact signals. “Vowels” have a specific physical structure and probably play a role in identification signals. A high
rate of the click series was observed in the process of social interactions. |
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