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Sperm whales change ‘vowel’ sounds when boats are nearby, scientists discover

World 1 source 1 country 🔦 Under-reported 14m ago

Researchers listening off the Caribbean island of Dominica have discovered that sperm whales alter their audible click patterns when marine traffic is nearby. According to the findings, the mammals produce a specific and distinct variation in these sounds, which researchers describe as vowel-like, whenever boats are close.

The discovery highlights the behavioral adjustments marine life makes in response to human activity and vessel noise. While the exact implications of these vocal modifications are still being studied, the research demonstrates a direct and measurable effect of marine traffic on communication patterns among sperm whale populations.

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Read the full story at the source The Guardian World · GB
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