Source levels and call parameters of harbor seal breeding vocalizations near a terrestrial haulout site in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve

Harbor seal breeding vocalizations near the Beardslee Islands in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve exhibit notably lower minimum frequencies (78 Hz) compared to previously reported values, with average source levels of 144 dBRMS re 1 μPa at 1 m. The study, conducted using a three-element planar hydrophone array, measured four key call parameters: minimum frequency, peak frequency, total duration (averaging 4.8 seconds), and pulse duration (averaging 3.0 seconds). These findings suggest that while the duration of calls aligns with other populations, the lower frequency range may reflect regional or environmental adaptations.

Matthews, L. P., Parks, S. E., Fournet, M. E. H., Gabriele, C. M., Womble, J. N., & Klinck, H. (2017). Source levels and call parameters of harbor seal breeding vocalizations near a terrestrial haulout site in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 141(3), EL274–EL280. https://doi.org/10.1121/1.4978299