Evidence of synchronous chorusing in North Atlantic minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata

Abstract

Many arthropods are known to chorus acoustically. Some families such as the Gryllidae are known to synchronize their chirping, and other families such as the Cicadidae are known to buzz together or pulse in groups. In the Gryllidae, synchronization is facilitated by way of corollary discharge that “blanks” the auditory nerve concurrent to stridulation syllables. This permits the individual animal to “not hear” itself while chirping and to hear nearby conspecifics if they are not in sync. Thus, when animals are synchronized, none of them hear anything, unless one falls or phases out of sync. There are many conjectures as to why they synchronize. It is clear that in doing so, they establish an acoustic community. The larger sound-field also ambiguates the location of individual animals to potential predators. There is some evidence that conspecific communication occurs within the chorus which may convey local conditions (such as the presence of a predator) to the acoustic community. Many rorquals (blue, fin, sei, Brydes, and minke whales) pulse in the low and infrasonic frequency ranges. This paper will present and evaluate recorded evidence which might suggest that minke whales may synchronize their pulsing with others—potentially forming an acoustic community with conspecifics.