Sperm whales change ‘vowel’ sounds when boats are nearby, scientists discover
Summary
Scientists have found that sperm whales change the pattern and speed of their clicking sounds when boats are nearby. This discovery can help predict when ships are close by and offers new insights into how whales communicate under noisy conditions.Key Facts
- Sperm whales use specific clicking patterns called “codas” to communicate.
- When ships are near, whales make their clicks faster and change the types of codas they use.
- Researchers recorded the clicks of 15 sperm whales off Dominica over four years.
- Whale clicks can now help predict the presence of nearby boats.
- Unlike some animals, sperm whales did not just get louder but changed the way they clicked.
- Project Ceti uses drone-attached audio tags to record whale sounds with minimal disturbance.
- The whales’ clicks include “vowel-like” sounds that may carry meaning, changing with noise levels.
- Some experts question whether it is accurate to compare whale sounds to human language.
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