[Animals] Humpback whales across the Pacific are connected to each other by a common song, study reveals

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A network of shared song unites different groups of humpback whales, which move across the Pacific in search of food and rest.
Humpback whales are very social animals. So much so, that unique knowledge is transmitted from generation to generation. All through song. In fact, they are able to identify their relatives by means of specific sounds, as has been observed from the coast of Australia to French Polynesia.

A study recently published in Royal Society Open Science showed that even in breeding grounds near the equator, humpback whales share a common song. Each group has a specific 'choir', with which they know how to differentiate which may be their best partners in the mating season. However, the song is very similar.

That's how it works.

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Melodies as complex as jazz pieces

The researchers noticed repeated behavior among the humpback whales. The mating song is so complex, however, that it can be compared to jazz pieces. And what's more: "each po[CENSORED]tion has a slightly different chorus of vocalizations that come together in a unique way," Science Alert reports.

These phrases are called 'themes', and each whale has several in the same song. The researchers recorded how, from time to time, these pieces undergo a 'revolution', as described in the study. There comes a time when all the fragments that the males sing are replaced by completely new ones.

Although it's still unclear why this happens, the study authors have found that these slight changes have powerful effects in attracting new mates. What is truly impressive is that completely different po[CENSORED]tions of humpback whales share exactly the same songs with each other, even though they are separated by thousands of kilometers.

An underwater musical revolution
This behavior was recorded over three years. Between 2016 and 2018, researchers managed to track this underwater 'musical revolution'. It originated in French Polynesia and, years later, was repeated in South America. The only thing connecting the two towns was the Pacific Ocean.

In this regard, the researchers suggest that this transmission of knowledge is only possible through songs, which humpback whales learn from generation to generation:

“THIS STUDY DEMONSTRATES THAT SONGS FIRST IDENTIFIED IN WESTERN PO[CENSORED]TIONS CAN BE TRANSMITTED ACROSS THE SOUTH PACIFIC, SUPPORTING THE POTENTIAL FOR CULTURAL TRANSMISSION OF SONG IN THE CIRCUMPOLAR SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE AND A VOCAL CULTURE RIVALIZED IN ITS EXTENSION ONLY FOR OURS”, THE RESEARCHERS WRITE.

Because of the considerable distance that separated the two po[CENSORED]tions, scientists suggest that it is possible for related groups of humpback whales to achieve entire circumnavigation voyages. They learn the route through song, identifying other members of their groups by shared song fragments.

The researchers think that the whales increase the volume of their song when they move to eat or reach their resting places. Specifically, when they migrate across the Pacific. Thus, the authors conclude, “The study of humpback whale song culture […] sheds light on the underlying mechanisms of social learning and cultural evolution in animals.”

https://www.ngenespanol.com/animales/las-ballenas-jorobadas-estan-conectadas-por-el-canto-en-el-oceano-pacifico/