Blue whales forced to increase their 'singing' to cope with noise pollution from ships.Byline: ANI London, September 23 (ANI): A new research by scientists has determined that blue whales blue whale, a baleen whale, Balaenoptera musculus. Also called the sulphur-bottom whale and Sibbald's rorqual, it is the largest animal that has ever lived. Blue whales have been known to reach a length of 100 ft (30. have had to increase their 'singing' to cope with noise pollution from ships. Man-made noise such as ships' engines has caused hearing loss in whales. It has also caused other behavioural changes, including forcing the creatures to strand on beaches because they are unable to navigate. The endangered en·dan·ger tr.v. en·dan·gered, en·dan·ger·ing, en·dan·gers 1. To expose to harm or danger; imperil. 2. To threaten with extinction. blue whale uses sonar to navigate, locate prey, avoid predators and communicate. However, in recent years, the Years, The the seven decades of Eleanor Pargiter’s life. [Br. Lit.: Benét, 1109] See : Time increasing use of hi-tech sonar by ships, the noise of propellers, seismic surveys, sea-floor drilling, and low-frequency radio transmissions have made oceans noisier. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. a report in the Telegraph, new research has shown that the whales are having to 'chatter' more often and for longer periods to communicate the location of prey and to mate. Zoologist Lucia Di Iorio, of the University of Zurich History The University of Zurich was founded in 1833 with existing colleges of theology (founded by Huldrych Zwingli in 1525), law and medicine merged together with a new faculty of Philosophy. , analysed the song of blue whales recorded by microphones during seismic explorations in the St Lawrence estuary estuary (ĕs`ch  ĕr'ē), partially enclosed coastal body of water, having an open connection with the ocean, where freshwater from inland is mixed with saltwater from the sea. off Canada's north east coast over an
eleven day period in August 2004.
"We found that blue whales called consistently more on seismic exploration days than on non-exploration days as well as during periods within a seismic survey day when the sparker was operating," she said. "This increase was observed for the discrete, audible calls that are emitted during social encounters and feeding," she added. The study provides the first evidence that blue whales change their calling behaviour when exposed to sounds from seismic surveys. "This study suggests careful reconsideration of the potential behavioural impacts of even low source level seismic survey sounds on large whales. This is particularly relevant when the species is at high risk of extinction as is the blue whale," added Dr Di Iorio. (ANI) Copyright 2009 Asian News International The Asian News International (ANI) agency provides multimedia news to China and 50 bureaus in India. It covers virtually all of South Asia since its foundation and presently claims, on its official website, to be the leading South Asia-wide news agency. (ANI) - All Rights Reserved. Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company |
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