Publication Date

Summer 2025

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Moss Landing Marine Laboratories

Advisor

Brigitte McDOnald; Alison Stimpert; Thomas Connolly

Abstract

Humpback whales are one of many species of marine mammal that utilize sound in multiple aspects of their lives in the oceans. By collecting acoustic data from multiple areas across the habitat of these animals, we can investigate spatiotemporal patterns in their sound production to better understand their life history strategy. This study uses three years of passive acoustic data collected concurrently from three U.S. West Coast National Marine Sanctuaries to look for spatiotemporal patterns in humpback whale song and non-song vocalizations. Additionally, this study investigated correlations between upwelling conditions and the onset of song to explore links between the environment and the behavior of song production. This study documented year-round song presence on U.S. West Coast feeding grounds for the first time, in addition to clear seasonal trends in song presence and non-song presence that line up with patterns observed in humpback whale populations globally. No link was found between upwelling conditions and the timing of song onset, i.e. the day that whale song becomes regular. At each of the three sites, the timing of song onset was incredibly consistent despite large variations in upwelling. This suggests that humpback whale song production may be more influenced by reproductive phenology, like hormonal cues, as opposed to foraging phenology and could serve as an indicator of migration. A better understanding of what cues whales use to migrate will inform conservation efforts designed at reducing ship strike and entanglement risk by finding ways to minimize the overlap of whales, ships, and fishing gear.

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