Acoustic Ecology and Behavior of Minke Whales in the Hawaiian and Marianas Islands: Localization, Abundance Estimation, and Characterization of Minke Whale “Boings”

Abstract

Abstract Balaenoptera acutorostrata (minke whale) is a small and elusive baleen whale that is rarely sighted in the tropical waters of the North Pacific Ocean. During winter and spring, complex sounds called ”boings” are frequently detected around the Hawaiian Islands and other Pacific island regions (Norris et al. 2009; Thompson and Friedl 1982). Although boings were described over 45 years ago (Wenz 1964), they were not attributed to minke whales until very recently (Rankin and Barlow 2005). Sightings of Balaenoptera acutorostrata are uncommon in tropical and subtropical waters; however, boings are frequently detected around the Hawaiian Islands using seafloor hydrophones and from hydrophone arrays towed from research vessels. Even today, very little is known about acoustic behaviors and ecology of Balaenoptera acutorostrata. The long-term objective of this research effort is to improve our understanding of the acoustic ecology and behavior of Balaenoptera acutorostrata in their breeding habitat.KeywordsHawaiian IslandNorth Pacific OceanAcoustic DataMinke WhaleAcoustic BehaviorThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.