Can Dolphins from Different Regions Understand Each Other?
Recent research has revealed an intriguing fact: dolphins, like humans, can exhibit regional accents. While we often associate accents with people, it turns out that these intelligent marine mammals also possess distinct vocal variations.
The New Zealand accent, in particular, stands out for its uniqueness. So much so that the national airline has cleverly used it in their advertising campaigns. But what about dolphins? Could they face communication challenges based on their accents?
Dr. Jessica Patiño-Pérez, a researcher from Massey University in New Zealand, embarked on a study focused on the whistles emitted by Tursiops dolphins near Great Barrier Island (GBI) on the north coast. Collaborating with Dr. Marta Guerra from the University of Otago, she also collected recordings from another dolphin population at Doubtful Sound (DS), located near the southern tip of the South Island.
Through meticulous analysis, Patiño-Pérez and her team compared these dolphin recordings with those from various regions worldwide.
Diverse Dolphin Whistles
Dolphins are renowned for their communicative abilities. They use a variety of sounds to navigate their environment and maintain social bonds. Among these sounds, whistles play a crucial role. Ranging in frequencies from 3,000 to 36,000 Hz and lasting up to 4 seconds, these whistles serve as a primary mode of communication.
Interestingly, the acoustic environment influences dolphin whistling patterns. Dolphins living in deeper waters tend to emit lower-frequency sounds, while their coastal counterparts produce higher-pitched notes. Additionally, dolphins have “signature whistles” that function as personal identifiers within their social groups. In this study, the researchers focused on common whistles shared among group members.
These whistles serve various purposes, including behavioral coordination, social recognition, and maintaining group harmony. If dolphin populations remain isolated over time, their communication systems could evolve, much like how human languages develop.
The level of mutual comprehension among dolphins from distinct regions remains an intriguing mystery. Genetically, the populations of dolphins near Great Barrier Island (GBI) and Doubtful Sound (DS) appear to be largely separate, indicating limited intermingling.
This genetic divergence manifests in communication disparities, particularly in whistle contour, duration, and frequency. These variations are distinct enough for computer algorithms to accurately differentiate between the two populations. Interestingly, DS dolphins produce longer and more complex whistles compared to their GBI counterparts. Surprisingly, the acoustic parameters of New Zealand dolphin whistles align more closely with those of northern hemisphere populations, hinting at historical colonization influences.
Despite residing in shallower waters, GBI dolphins emit lower-frequency whistles. The authors speculate that DS dolphins may adjust their vocal pitch in response to boat traffic, a common feature in tourist-heavy areas.
However, it remains unclear whether dolphins from different populations can truly comprehend each other’s dialects. Mutual incomprehension could potentially deepen geographic divisions. Attempting to communicate with unfamiliar dolphins may prove futile if they cannot interpret each other’s signals effectively.
Sources: nationalgeographic.com; ypte.org.uk; sciencing.com; us.whales.org;
Image Source: shutterstock.com
