Influence of environmental parameters on the use and spatiotemporal distribution of the vocalizations of bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) in Kongsfjorden, Spitsbergen

Vincenzi, Giovanni de; Parisi, Ignazio; Torri, Marco; Papale, Elena; Mazzola, Salvatore; Nuth, Christopher; Buscaino, Giuseppa

doi:10.1007/s00300-019-02514-3

Cited by 8 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…Many invertebrates and vertebrates show temporal patterns in their acoustic behavior, which are generally crucial for their life history [3][4][5][6]. Acoustics is critical for the survival of several living organisms, which rely on sounds for carrying on biological activities and communicating.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acoustic Presence of Dolphins through Whistles Detection in Mediterranean Shallow Waters

Gregorietti

Papale

Ceraulo

et al. 2021

JMSE

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The evaluation of acoustic temporal rhythms in wide-ranging cetaceans can reveal patterns in animal spatial presence and the occurrence of periodical phenomena. Here, we aimed at assessing the temporal patterns of dolphin’s acoustic presence in a shallow-water area in the Sicily Strait (Mediterranean Sea). Whistles were collected continuously for 14 months from an acoustic monitoring station installed aboard of an elastic seamark. Over a total of 6955 h of recording, 14,048 signals were identified using both automatic and visual methods. Three parameters were analyzed: hourly presence (HP), used as a proxy of the presence of dolphins in the area; detection rate (DR), indicating the acoustic activity rate of dolphins measured per hour in the entire dataset; and detection rate in presence of dolphins (DRD), indicating the acoustic activity rate of dolphins considering only the hours when whistles were recorded. The highest values of both HP and DR were reached during the night, and the Autumn and Winter months, suggesting an increase in the dolphin’s occurrence and a possible moving away and towards the monitoring station potentially following prey. DRD, instead, showed an almost uniform distribution throughout the day implying that when the animals are close to the monitoring station, the acoustic activity does not show any pattern. However, possible changes in the communication exchange along the seasons were suggested. This study complements other work on this subject, improving the knowledge of dolphins’ acoustic activity in the area.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acoustic Presence of Dolphins through Whistles Detection in Mediterranean Shallow Waters

Gregorietti

Papale

Ceraulo

et al. 2021

JMSE

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“…In Kongsfjorden acoustic rhythms have also been reported also for the bearded seal Erignathus barbatus, whose vocalisation rate varies significantly both daily and monthly 37 , showing a correlation with solar elevation when light and darkness turnover is occurs. www.nature.com/scientificreports/ Spatial pattern.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 79%

Spatio-temporal distribution and acoustic characterization of haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus, Gadidae) calls in the Arctic fjord Kongsfjorden (Svalbard Islands)

Buscaino

Picciulin

Canale

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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In this study we analysed the acoustic properties and presence of haddock calls in the Arctic fjord Kongsfjorden (79° N–12° E, Svalbard Islands, Norway) in one year. Data were collected with three autonomous acoustic recorders located in the inner, middle, and outer parts of the fjord. The fjord is characterized by a gradient of oceanographic conditions from the inner to the outer part, reflecting changes from Arctic to Atlantic waters. Haddock sounds were more abundant in the outer fjord than in the middle fjord, whereas they were absent at the inner site. Mainly at the open-water site, the call abundance exhibited strong periodicity and a correlation with the cycles of neap tide (15 days) in August, with a clear diel cycle (24 h) in September and October. This result suggests that in this extreme environment with 24 h of light during summer, haddock regulate their acoustic activity according to the main available oscillating external physical driver, such as tide during the polar summer, while when the alternation of light/dark starts, they shift the periodicity of their calls to a diel cycle. Calls were recorded outside the spawning period (from July to October), and their characteristics indicated non-reproductive communicative contests. By using a detailed sound analysis based on previous laboratory studies for the first time, we suggest that the monitored population contains mainly juveniles (44% compared to 41% females and only approximately 15% mature males), showing the predominance of females in the middle fjord and juveniles at the open-water site.

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“…This study provided year-round acoustic information on bearded seal vocalizations from three locations within the Svalbard Archipelago, where earlier acoustics studies of this species in this region had only taken place in Kongsfjorden (Van Parijs et al 2001, 2003, 2004Parisi et al 2017;de Vincenzi et al 2019). The current study included sites with quite different habitat characteristic, including (1) Kongsfjorden, which has undergone significant Atlantification over the past 1.5 decades, (2) Rijpfjorden, which is a more typical Arctic fjord, and ( 3) an open water drift-ice location (Atwain).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Previous studies of the acoustic behaviour of Svalbard's bearded seals have all been conducted in Kongsfjorden (Fig. 1a, b) (Van Parijs et al 2001, 2003, 2004Parisi et al 2017;de Vincenzi et al 2019). These research efforts have contributed to a better understanding of the vocal biology of this species and provide a baseline for future monitoring efforts.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus) vocalizations across seasons and habitat types in Svalbard, Norway

et al. 2021

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Male bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) use vocal displays to attract females and to compete with other males during the mating season. This makes it possible to monitor breeding populations of this species using passive acoustic monitoring (PAM). This study analysed year-round acoustic data records from AURAL instruments in Svalbard (Norway) to investigate seasonal variation in the acoustic presence of male bearded seals and the phenology of different call types (long, step and sweep trills) at three sites representing a variety of habitats with varied ice conditions. Male bearded seals vocalized for an extended period at a drift-ice site (Atwain; January–July) north of Spitsbergen, while the vocal season was shorter at a High Arctic land-fast-ice site (Rijpfjorden; February–June) and shorter yet again at a west-coast site that has undergone dramatic reductions in sea ice cover over the last 1.5 decades (Kongsfjorden; April–June). Generalized Additive Models showed marked seasonal segregation in the use of different trill types at Atwain, where call rates reached 400 per h, with long trills being the most numerous call type. Modest segregation of trill types was seen at Rijpfjorden, where call rates reached 300 per h, and no segregation occurred in Kongsfjorden (peak call rate 80 per h). Sea ice cover was available throughout the vocal season at Atwain and Rijpfjorden, while at Kongsfjorden peak vocal activity (May–June) occurred after the sea ice disappeared. Ongoing climate warming and sea ice reductions will likely increase the incidence of such mismatches and reduce breeding habitat for bearded seals.

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Influence of environmental parameters on the use and spatiotemporal distribution of the vocalizations of bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) in Kongsfjorden, Spitsbergen

Cited by 8 publications

References 56 publications

Acoustic Presence of Dolphins through Whistles Detection in Mediterranean Shallow Waters

Acoustic Presence of Dolphins through Whistles Detection in Mediterranean Shallow Waters

Spatio-temporal distribution and acoustic characterization of haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus, Gadidae) calls in the Arctic fjord Kongsfjorden (Svalbard Islands)

Bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus) vocalizations across seasons and habitat types in Svalbard, Norway

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