Update on frequency decline of Northeast Pacific blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) calls

PLoS One. 2022 Apr 1;17(4):e0266469. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0266469. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Worldwide, the frequency (pitch) of blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) calls has been decreasing since first recorded in the 1960s. This frequency decline occurs over annual and inter-annual timescales and has recently been documented in other baleen whale species, yet it remains unexplained. In the Northeast Pacific, blue whales produce two calls, or units, that, when regularly repeated, are referred to as song: A and B calls. In this population, frequency decline has thus far only been examined in B calls. In this work, passive acoustic data collected in the Southern California Bight from 2006 to 2019 were examined to determine if A calls are also declining in frequency and whether the call pulse rate was similarly impacted. Additionally, frequency measurements were made for B calls to determine whether the rate of frequency decline is the same as was calculated when this phenomenon was first reported in 2009. We found that A calls decreased at a rate of 0.32 Hz yr-1 during this period and that B calls were still decreasing, albeit at a slower rate (0.27 Hz yr-1) than reported previously. The A call pulse rate also declined over the course of the study, at a rate of 0.006 pulses/s yr-1. With this updated information, we consider the various theories that have been proposed to explain frequency decline in blue whales. We conclude that no current theory adequately accounts for all aspects of this phenomenon and consider the role that individual perception of song frequency may play. To understand the cause behind call frequency decline, future studies might want to explore the function of these songs and the mechanism for their synchronization. The ubiquitous nature of the frequency shift phenomenon may indicate a consistent level of vocal plasticity and fine auditory processing abilities across baleen whale species.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acoustics
  • Adaptation, Physiological
  • Animals
  • Balaenoptera* / physiology
  • California
  • Pacific Ocean
  • Time Factors
  • Vocalization, Animal* / classification

Grants and funding

Funding was provided to JAH by the US Navy Pacific Fleet (https://www.navymarinespeciesmonitoring.us/), grant number N00244-10-C-0021. The funders had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.