Abstract
Sperm whales, Physeter macrocephalus(catodon), emit short click sequences, called codas, with regular time patterns [Watkins and Schevill, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 62, 1485 (1977)]. Since codas recorded in different geographical areas have different and stable patterns, they possibly serve to convey regional information. More than 120 codas were recorded in the Central Mediterranean Sea in the years 1985–1996 by several research groups using a number of different detection instruments, including stationary and towed hydrophones, military sonobuoys and passive sonars. All of the recorded codas share the same time pattern 3+1 (///-/) with an overall duration ranging from 456 to 1280 ms and an average value of 910 ms. Even if the coda duration varies, the click pattern remains significantly stable. In the present work, the repetition rate and time pattern of Mediterranean codas are characterized, also taking into consideration their possible biological and geographical role. [Work supported by the Italian Ministry of the Environment, Inspectorate for Sea Protection, and by the Italian Navy. Work of the second author supported by ONR Base funding at NRL.]
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
