Convergence and divergence of songs suggests ongoing, but annually variable, mixing of humpback whale populations throughout the North Pacific.

ABSTRACT: All humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) males in a population sing fundamentally the same version of a complex, progressively changing, series of sounds at any one time - the song. The purpose of this study was to describe the relationship of humpback whale populations across the North Pacific based on song composition. Songs were collected from Philippines, Japan, Hawaii and Mexico in 2011, 2012 and 2013. The presence and proportion of 11 phrase types were compared within and between populations to investigate song similarity and change. Results included: shared song phrases across the North Pacific; variable, temporary, regional song differences; varying rate of song change; and distance a factor, but not predictor in degree of similarity. Shared phrases indicate ongoing mixing of po

SUBMITTER: Darling JD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6505537 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature