By: Courtney KneippBy: Courtney KneippBeamReach Marine Science and BeamReach Marine Science and

Sustainability SchoolSustainability SchoolFall 2005Fall 2005

Hendrix College 06Hendrix College 06Conway, ARConway, AR

• Killer whale : endangered speciesKiller whale : endangered species– distinct cultural archetypes are both irreplaceabledistinct cultural archetypes are both irreplaceable

• Motivation for Investigation:Motivation for Investigation:– each pod has a unique acoustic cultureeach pod has a unique acoustic culture– may offer insight into the development of their vocal repertoire and may offer insight into the development of their vocal repertoire and

acoustic cultural transmission process.acoustic cultural transmission process.

• Cultural DebateCultural Debate– Boweles et al. (1988), calf develops repertoire until pubertyBoweles et al. (1988), calf develops repertoire until puberty

– Deecke’s(1999) “gene-culture coevolution”Deecke’s(1999) “gene-culture coevolution”

• LunaLuna – supports Deecke’s “gene-culture coevolution” theory – supports Deecke’s “gene-culture coevolution” theory

• Enggist-Dueblin and Pfister(2001),Enggist-Dueblin and Pfister(2001), cultural transmission in ravens cultural transmission in ravens– Subsong, plastic song, crystallized songSubsong, plastic song, crystallized song

• Fripp et al(2004Fripp et al(2004), dolphins ability to learn signature whistles of pod ), dolphins ability to learn signature whistles of pod through members whom they associate rarely.through members whom they associate rarely.

• Hubbs-Sea World Research InstituteHubbs-Sea World Research Institute– calf can vocalize within days of birth, but sound production is shaped calf can vocalize within days of birth, but sound production is shaped

with age with age – first vocalizations loud, high pitched calls that bear no resemblance to first vocalizations loud, high pitched calls that bear no resemblance to

adult-type calls adult-type calls

• Boweles(1988)Boweles(1988)– vocalization may begin with shorter pulsed calls occurring at a higher vocalization may begin with shorter pulsed calls occurring at a higher

frequency. frequency.

• Materials for Acoustic Observation:Materials for Acoustic Observation:- “Ears”- “Ears”

-“Elephant Ears”-“Elephant Ears”

- High impedance amplifier- High impedance amplifier

- Marantz PMD660 recorder, - Marantz PMD660 recorder, used to record sound files used to record sound files

* * digitizing rate of 44100digitizing rate of 44100

-Range -Range * 90- 150 dB* 90- 150 dB

• Materials for Visual Observation:Materials for Visual Observation:

- Data Sheet- Data Sheet

- Spotter with camera- Spotter with camera

* special thanks to my fellow crew * special thanks to my fellow crew mates!mates!

- Video- Video

*The Ishmael Journey: a series of unfortunate events

Sonogram of an S19 call, depicting where I measured the Sonogram of an S19 call, depicting where I measured the fundamental frequency of the tone. fundamental frequency of the tone. ..

Sonogram of an S1 call, depicting how I measured the Sonogram of an S1 call, depicting how I measured the call duration. Black lines indicate start and end points call duration. Black lines indicate start and end points

of my measurement. of my measurement.

S19 10/06/05 Min. Start Frequency

4.7

4.75

4.8

4.85

4.9

4.95

5

5.05

5.1

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Observations during sound file #24

Freq

uenc

y (H

z)

S19 Field Calls Ford's S19 Avg Start Tone Field Call Avg Start Tone Ford +1 Std

My S19 fundamental frequencies shown varying around My S19 fundamental frequencies shown varying around Ford’s(1990) S19 average fundamental frequency for the Ford’s(1990) S19 average fundamental frequency for the beginning of the tone. Yellow line depicts my S19’s average in beginning of the tone. Yellow line depicts my S19’s average in comparison to Ford’s average, in redcomparison to Ford’s average, in red.

S1 Fundamental FrequencyS1 Fundamental Frequency

S1 Fundamental Frequency

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

1 2 3 4

S1 Observed during sound file

Fre

quen

cy (H

z)

My S1 Fundamental Frequencies

Ford's S1 Fundamental Frequency Average

My S1 Fundamental Frequency Average

My measured S1 fundamental frequencies compared to My measured S1 fundamental frequencies compared to Ford’s average fundamental frequency for an adult S1 Ford’s average fundamental frequency for an adult S1 call. call.

S1 Call Duration

250

350

450

550

650

750

850

1 2 3 4

S1 calls observed during sound file

Tim

e (m

s)

My S1 call duration Ford's S1 call duration average My S1 call duration average

Call duration of my S1’s compared to average call duration of Ford’s S1’sCall duration of my S1’s compared to average call duration of Ford’s S1’s..

S1 Call DurationS1 Call Duration

Ishmael located call at 173 and 187 degrees.Ishmael located call at 173 and 187 degrees.

How well do Ishmael’s bearings match mine?How well do Ishmael’s bearings match mine?

Correlation BTW Ishmael and True Bearing

y = 0.9905x + 18.255

R2 = 0.806

0.00

50.00

100.00

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200.00

250.00

300.00

350.00

400.00

0.00 50.00 100.00 150.00 200.00 250.00 300.00 350.00 400.00

True Degrees

Ishm

ael D

egre

es

Results RevisitedResults Revisited

• Overall, my S19 and S1 fundamental Overall, my S19 and S1 fundamental frequencies were higher than Ford(1990)’s frequencies were higher than Ford(1990)’s fundamental frequencies average for fundamental frequencies average for those calls. those calls.

• My S1s’ durations were not significantly My S1s’ durations were not significantly longer than Ford(1990)’s S1’s duration for longer than Ford(1990)’s S1’s duration for adult calls. adult calls.

• Ishmael can localize underwater sound Ishmael can localize underwater sound sources…future study!sources…future study!

• Higher S1 and S19 fundamental frequencies Higher S1 and S19 fundamental frequencies could indicate that a calf was presentcould indicate that a calf was present

• Higher fundamental frequencies could also Higher fundamental frequencies could also mean change in adult call frequency over the mean change in adult call frequency over the past 20 years.past 20 years.

• Further studying vocal development to better Further studying vocal development to better understand the acoustic cultural transmission understand the acoustic cultural transmission process.process.

* interesting: L-pod calve making a J/K-pod call?* interesting: L-pod calve making a J/K-pod call?

I dedicate this experience to CoachEd,

my grandfather,

who lived a life of Patience,

Endurance,

And

Compassion

Every day

Of

His

Life. I

Will

Miss

You.