Diversity of marine mammal vocalizations off Rausu, Shiretoko, northern Japan

Passive acoustic monitoring off Rausu, Shiretoko, revealed distinct vocalization patterns among marine mammals, providing new insights into their seasonal behaviors. Pacific white-sided dolphins emitted burst pulsed calls in July, November, and December, while ribbon seals produced downsweeps likely linked to breeding activities in February and March. Killer whales exhibited pulsed calls from April to August, and sperm whales generated clicks in July and August, suggesting foraging behavior. This non-invasive method overcame limitations posed by seasonal sea ice and harsh weather, offering a comprehensive understanding of marine mammal ecology in this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Otsuki, M., Akamatsu, T., Nobetsu, T., & Mitani, Y. (2016). Diversity of marine mammal vocalizations off Rausu, Shiretoko, northern Japan. 2016 Techno-Ocean (Techno-Ocean), 45–48. https://doi.org/10.1109/techno-ocean.2016.7890760