Abstract
The acoustic behavior of animals living at the edge or below the photic zone is poorly documented. Limited opportunities to make recordings and/or behavioral observations in deep water environments have resulted in a paucity of information about sound production by animals living at depth. Here we report on an effort begun in 2006 to acoustically monitor deep reef environments off Oahu, HI. Ecological acoustic recorders (EARs) were deployed along the perimeter of the island and along the slope of a nearby bank at depths ranging between 115 and 575 m. At several locations, one of the predominant sounds recorded was a chorus of pulsed signals centered at approximately 4 kHz timed closely with the period following sunset. The duration of the chorus varies between 1 and 10 h in length and is tied to the lunar cycle. The chorus is seasonal, beginning in late December and ending in early June. This period corresponds closely with the seasonal presence of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in Hawaii. The source of the chorus is presently still unknown, but being investigated using a combination of passive and active acoustic methods.
Published Version
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