Modelling the influence of environmental factors on the acoustic presence of blue whale populations in the southern Indian Ocean.

ABSTRACT: Blue whales in the Indian Ocean have been severely depleted by previous extensive commercial whaling. A good understanding of their spatio-temporal distribution is crucial for conservation. The songs of three blue whale acoustic populations - Antarctic blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus intermedia, ANT BW) and pygmy blue whales (B. musculus brevicauda) from the Southeast (SEIO PBW) and Southwest Indian Ocean (SWIO PBW) - were analyzed using 13 years of passive acoustic recordings from 10 sites in the southwest Indian Ocean. Although blue whale vocalizations comprise both songs and non-song calls (e.g., D-calls), the present study concentrates on the examination of songs. Generalized additive models (GAMs) were used to relate acoustic presence, measured by the number of positive minutes per

SUBMITTER: Michel M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12223265 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature