Publication Date:
2014-04-25
Description:
For decades, the bio-duck sound has been recorded in the Southern Ocean,
but the animal producing it has remained a mystery. Heard mainly during
austral winter in the Southern Ocean, this ubiquitous sound has been
recorded in Antarctic waters and contemporaneously off the Australian
west coast. Here, we present conclusive evidence that the bio-duck sound
is produced by Antarctic minke whales (Balaenoptera bonaerensis). We analysed
data from multi-sensor acoustic recording tags that included intense
bio-duck sounds as well as singular downsweeps that have previously
been attributed to this species. This finding allows the interpretation of a
wealth of long-term acoustic recordings for this previously acoustically concealed
species, which will improve our understanding of the distribution,
abundance and behaviour of Antarctic minke whales. This is critical information
for a species that inhabits a difficult to access sea-ice environment
that is changing rapidly in some regions and has been the subject of
contentious lethal sampling efforts and ongoing international legal action.
Repository Name:
EPIC Alfred Wegener Institut
Type:
Article
,
isiRev
Format:
application/pdf
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