Short Wave Ocean World Tour: Whale Vocal Fry, Fossilizing Plankton and A Treaty
Mar 10, 2023
Dive into the fascinating world of marine communication as dolphins and toothed whales showcase their vocal skills. Discover the mysteries of plankton, ancient fossils, and their vital role in the ocean ecosystem. Learn about a groundbreaking treaty aimed at protecting the high seas and promoting biodiversity. This episode combines science and conservation in a lively discussion, highlighting both innovative research and the pressing need for global action to preserve our oceans.
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Dolphin Vocalizations
- Toothed whales like dolphins and orcas use echolocation to hunt in dark waters.
- They produce a variety of sounds, including clicks, whistles, and burst pulses, using specialized phonic lips in their noses.
Dolphin Research Methods
- Researchers used endoscopes on live dolphins and air flow experiments on deceased porpoises.
- This confirmed that phonic lips are responsible for sound production in toothed whales.
Whale Vocal Registers
- Toothed whales, like humans, possess three vocal registers: chest, head, and vocal fry.
- Their vocal fry register enables echolocation, similar to how humans use it.