Whales swap songs with other groups as they migrate, scientists discover for first time

A total of 116 whale encounters were analysed near Kauai, which is part of the Hawaiian archipelago, over the course of six years.

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Whales swap songs with other groups as they migrate, scientists have discovered for the first time.

For years it was believed that the endangered Fin Whale sang just one song pattern, which is unique to the males in his particular group.

But using underwater microphones researchers have discovered they can produce different melodies that spread to other parts of the ocean as groups travel.

A total of 116 whale encounters were analysed near Kauai, which is part of the Hawaiian archipelago, over the course of six years.

Recordings discovered that while male fin whales living in the Pacific Ocean only sing two notes at a very low pitch, these are produced in different rhythms to create songs.

Five main patterns of songs were recorded in the area, some of which were geographically unique, but others were similar to those recorded in whale groups off the north-west coast of the US.

A humpback whale tail high out of water in Maui, Hawaii.

Credit: M Swiet Productions

Corresponding author Dr Regina Guazzo, of the Naval Information Warfare Centre, said: "When a new whale song is recorded in a region, researchers often read it as a signal that a new group or individual has arrived from a different part of the world.

"However, this study suggests that these new song patterns may have been picked up by a local whale on his migratory travels, in a process of cultural transmission between groups from different regions".

It is now hoped that further whale song analysis will enhance understanding of their migration patterns and population change.

The are currently between 50,000 and 90,000 Fin Whales in the ocean, which has led to the WWF giving them endangered status.

Dr Tyler Helble, of the same centre, said: "There is still a lot of uncertainty around the fin whale population size and structure in the North Pacific.

“Learning about the song could help us understand population dynamics in this region much better.

“Previously, some marine mammal scientists thought that fin whales each sang a single pattern of notes, which was found only within their specific group and region. Our research indicates that fin whale song is more complex than this.”

The scientists concluded additional monitoring methods, such as long-duration tags, will help in future to verify whether whales are from single or converging populations.

The findings were published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science.