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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment
Emma Bryce

Sperm whales change ‘vowel’ sounds when boats are nearby, scientists discover

Three sperm whales swimming just under the surface of the sea
Three sperm whales. In the latest research, in addition to the changing tempo of codas, the team identified differences in the prevalence of two vowel-like sounds in noisy conditions. Photograph: Project Ceti

Sperm whales produce a specific pattern of clicking noises when they hear the noise of boats, researchers have found. The pattern is so distinct that the scientists who identified it said they can now use it to predict when ships are nearby.

Researchers from Project Ceti (the Cetacean Translation Initiative), a non-profit research organisation working to decode sperm whale communication, spent four years tuning in on the calls of 15 sperm whales off the coast of Dominica.

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