Elemans, welcome back to Science Friday.ĬOEN ELEMANS: Thank you so much for having me again. He’s joining us today from Washington.ĭr. Coen Elemans, professor of bioacoustics and animal behavior at the University of Southern Denmark, based in Odense, Denmark. Here to tell us more about this discovery, published this week in the journal Science, is my guest, Dr. ![]() Yeah, that creaky voice that some people love to hate, only this time in a whale. It turns out the key to underwater echolocation is vocal fry. Until now, scientists couldn’t quite figure out how the whales were making those clicking sounds in the deep ocean, where there’s little air. And we’re talking about a mile deep or more. Toothed whales– think orca, bottlenose whales, and dolphins– toothed whales use echolocation to zero in on prey deep underwater. IRA FLATOW: I want to end this hour with a story that’s– well, how shall I say– a whale of a tale. Credit: Olga Filatova, University of Southern Denmark First a few echolocation clicks (M0 register), followed by a call and a “whistle” that are probably in the M1 and M2 register, respectively. Credit: Coen Elemans, University of Southern Denmark & Peter Madsen, Aarhus UniversityĬalls by a killer whale (Orcinus orca) consistent with three voice registers. First a few echolocation clicks (M0 register), followed by “bursts” in the M1 register and finally a “whistle” in the M2 register. The three voice registers of a bottlenose dolphin in sequence. Coen Elemans, professor of bioacoustics and animal behavior at the University of Southern Denmark based in Odense, Denmark. Ira talks with the study’s co-author, Dr. Although in whales it might not sound like the creaky voice that some people love to hate, the two sounds are generated in a similar way in the vocal folds. Until now, scientists couldn’t quite figure out how the whales were making these clicking sounds in the deep ocean, where there’s little oxygen.Ī new study published in the journal Science, finds the key to underwater echolocation is vocal fry. Toothed whales-species like orcas, bottlenose whales, and dolphins-use echolocation to zero in on prey about a mile deep into the ocean. Sound of a sperm whale echolocating (MP3 - 197.Scan of the sound producing nose of a harbor porpoise showing parts of the two sound sources, and the fatty melon that conducts sound into the water.The whistles, clicks, groans and other noises made by many toothed whales are also thought to be also important in communication between individuals. A recent theory suggests that very high intensity focussed sounds may be used to stun or disorient prey in hunting.Įcholocation is extremely sensitive and some scientists think it may provide toothed whales and dolphins with a three dimensional view of the world. When swimming normally, the sounds emitted are generally low frequency the echoes from these sounds provide information about the seafloor, the shorelines, underwater obstacles, water depth, and the presence of other animals underwater. Sounds are reflected or echoed back from objects, and these are thought to be received by an oil filled channel in the lower jaw and conducted to the middle ear of the animal. ![]() Toothed whales produce a variety of sounds by moving air between air-spaces or sinuses in the head. Toothed whales (including dolphins) have developed a remarkable sensory ability used for locating food and for navigation underwater called echolocation. Normally sounds from these whales are too low for humans to hear. ![]() Note: Both the blue whale and fin whale songs are five times their normal speed. Dwark minke whale song (MP3 - 188.03 KB).
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