The vocal signature of the male northern elephant seal

Authors

  • Caroline Casey Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, United States
  • Colleen Reichmuth Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, United States
  • Brandon Southall Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, United States
  • Isabelle Charrier Equipe Communications Acoustique, Université Paris Sud, Orsay, France
  • Nicolas Mathevon Laboratoire de Biologie Animale, Université Jean Monnet, Saint-Etienne, France

Keywords:

Acoustic signals, Behavioral response, Body sizes, Breeding systems, Complex displays, Me-xico, Northern elephant seal, Physical contacts, Sound pressures, Winter months

Abstract

A study that was conducted to examine the vocal signature of the male northern elephant seal is presented. Northern elephant seals breed annually during the winter months at islands and mainland rookeries along the western coast of the United States and Mexico. These animals maintain a highly polygynous breeding system in which adult males establish dominance hierarchies that determine access to estrous females. These complex displays play an important role in settling otherwise costly interactions between competing males, as stereotyped acoustic signals often elicit appropriate behavioral responses from spatially separated individuals without physical contact. Body size parameters for focal individuals were derived through repeated photometric sampling. High- quality, complete calling bouts were digitally recorded and analyzed from sub-adult and adult males to evaluate spectral, temporal, and sound pressure characteristics across both seasons.

Additional Files

Published

2012-09-01

How to Cite

1.
Casey C, Reichmuth C, Southall B, Charrier I, Mathevon N. The vocal signature of the male northern elephant seal. Canadian Acoustics [Internet]. 2012 Sep. 1 [cited 2024 Apr. 19];40(3):40-1. Available from: https://jcaa.caa-aca.ca/index.php/jcaa/article/view/2529

Issue

Vol. 40 No. 3 (2012)

Section

Proceedings of the Acoustics Week in Canada

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