Stimpert Alison K, Wiley David N, Au Whitlow W L, Johnson Mark P, Arsenault Roland
Marine Mammal Research Program, Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, PO Box 1106, Kailua, HI 96734, USA.
Biol Lett. 2007 Oct 22;3(5):467-70. doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2007.0281.
Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) exhibit a variety of foraging behaviours, but neither they nor any baleen whale are known to produce broadband clicks in association with feeding, as do many odontocetes. We recorded underwater behaviour of humpback whales in a northwest Atlantic feeding area using suction-cup attached, multi-sensor, acoustic tags (DTAGs). Here we describe the first recordings of click production associated with underwater lunges from baleen whales. Recordings of over 34000 'megapclicks' from two whales indicated relatively low received levels at the tag (between 143 and 154dB re 1 microPa pp), most energy below 2kHz, and interclick intervals often decreasing towards the end of click trains to form a buzz. All clicks were recorded during night-time hours. Sharp body rolls also occurred at the end of click bouts containing buzzes, suggesting feeding events. This acoustic behaviour seems to form part of a night-time feeding tactic for humpbacks and also expands the known acoustic repertoire of baleen whales in general.
座头鲸（Megaptera novaeangliae）展现出多种觅食行为，但与许多齿鲸不同，它们以及其他须鲸在觅食时都不会发出宽带咔嗒声。我们使用吸盘式多传感器声学标签（DTAGs）记录了西北大西洋觅食区座头鲸的水下行为。在此，我们描述了须鲸在水下猛冲时发出咔嗒声的首次记录。对两头鲸鱼超过34000次“巨咔嗒声”的记录显示，标签处的接收水平相对较低（相对于1微帕峰峰值为143至154分贝），大部分能量低于2千赫兹，并且咔嗒声之间的间隔通常在咔嗒声序列末尾会缩短，形成一种嗡嗡声。所有咔嗒声均在夜间记录。在包含嗡嗡声的咔嗒声发作结束时，身体也会急剧翻滚，这表明正在进食。这种声学行为似乎是座头鲸夜间觅食策略的一部分，同时也总体上扩展了已知的须鲸声学表现范围。
