Whales, the largest mammals to have ever lived, emit sounds that travel through the ocean, but the mechanics behind their vocalizations have always been a mystery.
Scientists believe they may have finally solved the mystery, and it's a unique trait not observed in other creatures. Whales possess a distinctive and highly specialized voice box.
Scientists Dig Deeper on How Whales Communicate
A recent study in the journal Nature examined the voice boxes, or larynxes, of three deceased whales - a humpback, minke, and sei, all belonging to the baleen whale family. The research was conducted by Coen Elemans from the University of Southern Denmark and his team.
Researchers conducted experiments by passing air through the vocal cords in a controlled laboratory setting to observe tissue vibrations. The researchers developed computer models of the sei whale's vocalizations and compared them to recordings of similar whales in their natural habitat.
Whales' predecessors lived on land around 50 million years ago before transitioning to an aquatic habitat. Elemans mentioned that the animals modified their voice boxes over tens of millions of years to produce sounds underwater.
Unlike humans and other mammals, baleen whales lack teeth or vocal cords. Instead, their vocal cords have a unique U-shaped tissue that enables them to inhale large volumes of air, along with a substantial layer of fat and muscle. According to Elemans, whales produce sounds by pressing their tissue against the fat and muscle cushion.
However, there is more to be studied "given the extraordinarily diverse acoustic reserve" of whales, he continued. Humpback whales, for example, are recognized for creating intricate songs that can be heard by whale groups across vast distances in the ocean.
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Other Whales' Sounds Can't Be Louder
Despite the impressive volume of whales' songs, research indicates that humpbacks and similar species are unable to generate sounds louder than those produced by the shipping industry.
"The animals are greatly impacted by the noise from ships, which hinders their communication abilities. There's absolutely no chance for them to increase their volume," Elemans shared the information.
As reported by The Independent, baleen whales communicate through a variety of sounds such as moans, grunts, thumps, and knocks to convey messages, navigate, and locate potential mates.
The songs are created at very low frequencies of up to 300Hz, allowing for communication in vast oceans since low-frequency sounds are absorbed less quickly in the marine environment compared to high-frequency ones.
According to the study, the distinct voice box of these whales makes it difficult for them to cope with human-generated noises in the ocean, which usually fall within the 30-300 Hz range.
According to the findings, which were published in the journal Nature, researchers are advocating for improved regulation to safeguard the species. Elemans insists on the necessity of implementing stringent regulations for noise levels, emphasizing the critical role of sound in whale communication.
"Now it is evident that despite their remarkable physiology, they are unable to avoid the noise created by humans in the oceans."
