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Cetacean Vocalization Frequency Related to Size, Migration Status, and Social Structure

Sylvia Megyerdi

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The purpose of this project is to determine if the physical and behavioral characteristics of cetaceans correlate with the frequency of their vocalizations. This study was accomplished by compiling the following data: the frequency range, size, length, weight, migration and social structure for 21 cetacean species from previous scientific reports and papers. Once this information was collected it was organized into charts and graphs that made it easier to determine differences and similarities between the species.

According to the data collected the range of frequency in cetacean directly relates to their social and migration status. High frequency sounds travel faster than low frequency sounds in water and are often used for echolocation because of their fast speed and reflection of objects at short distances, making them useful for highly social cetaceans. Low-pitched sounds travel more slowly over long distances with little reflection, making these vocalizations useful for migrating species that are often separated by large distances.

In general, large cetacean species emit low frequencies and small cetacean species emit high frequencies. Cetacean size relates to their behavior and the frequencies they emit allowing small cetaceans to emit high frequencies for echolocation and for a high degree of socialization, where as large cetaceans emit low frequencies that allow them to vocalize over a long distance when they migrate.