Norris T F, McDonald M, Barlow J
Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), Martime Services, San Diego, CA 92110, USA.
J Acoust Soc Am. 1999 Jul;106(1):506-14. doi: 10.1121/1.427071.
Numerous (84) acoustic detections of singing humpback whales were made during a spring (08 March-09 June 1997) research cruise to study sperm whales in the central and eastern North Pacific. Over 15,000 km of track-line was surveyed acoustically using a towed hydrophone array. Additionally, 83 sonobuoys were deployed throughout the study area. Detection rates were greatest in late March, near the Hawaiian Islands, and in early April, northeast of the islands. Only one detection was made after April. Detection rates for sonobuoys were unequal in three equally divided longitudinal regions of the study area. Two high density clusters of detections occurred approximately 1200-2000 km northeast of the Hawaiian Islands and were attributed to a large aggregation of migrating animals. The distribution of these detections corroborates findings of previous studies. It is possible that these animals were maintaining acoustic contact during migration. Two unexpected clusters of singing whales were detected approximately 900 to 1000 km west of central and southern California. The location of these detections may indicate a previously undocumented migration route between an offshore breeding area, such as the Revillagigedo Islands, Mexico, and possible feeding areas in the western North Pacific or Bering Sea.
在1997年春季（3月8日至6月9日）一次前往北太平洋中部和东部研究抹香鲸的科考航行中，对座头鲸的歌声进行了大量（84次）声学探测。使用拖曳式水听器阵列对超过15000公里的航线进行了声学勘测。此外，在整个研究区域部署了83个声呐浮标。3月下旬在夏威夷群岛附近以及4月初在该群岛东北部的探测率最高。4月之后仅进行了一次探测。在研究区域三个等距划分的纵向区域中，声呐浮标的探测率并不相同。在夏威夷群岛东北约1200 - 2000公里处出现了两个高密度探测集群，这归因于大量迁徙动物的聚集。这些探测结果证实了先前研究的发现。这些动物在迁徙过程中可能保持着声学联系。在加利福尼亚中部和南部以西约900至1000公里处探测到了两群意外的唱歌鲸鱼。这些探测地点可能表明在一个近海繁殖区（如墨西哥的雷维利亚希赫多群岛）与北太平洋西部或白令海可能的觅食区之间存在一条此前未记录的迁徙路线。
