Researchers Tag Sperm Whale To Unlock Secrets Of Powerful Ocean Clicks

Researchers tagged a sperm whale to study the powerful slow clicks produced by male sperm whales, sounds that are among the loudest communication signals measured in any mammal.

The research team used small recording computers attached to whales with suction cups to analyze the animals’ communication. The study examined slow clicks recorded in waters off the Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Norway and Scotland.

The researchers found that male sperm whales produce slow, low-frequency clicks with extreme strength, rhythm, and range. These clicks are different from the echolocation sounds the whales use to locate prey and instead appear to be communication signals.

The sounds were measured using underwater microphones, including recordings from a male sperm whale off the Seychelles. Researchers analyzed 65 slow clicks from a 30-minute recording, with the most powerful reaching 226 dB re 1 µPa at a distance of one meter.

The reason behind the clicks remains unknown. Scientists are investigating whether they could be linked to attracting females, interactions between males, territorial behavior, or something else.

“Could it be linked to honest advertisement, sexual selection, territorial enforcement or something else entirely? We hope to carry out a new study that can find explanations through playback experiments,” said Simone Videsen.

Researchers also emphasize that while the clicks are a form of communication, they should not be considered a language. The study aims to understand how sperm whales use sound to send signals through enormous areas of the ocean.