Blue whale songs are getting deeper, say baffled scientists

[gonphishing]

Blue whale songs are getting deeper, say baffled scientists

By Claire Bates
Last updated at 1:43 AM on 04th December 2009

Blue whales are famed for their haunting songs that travel thousands of miles under the ocean. Now scientists have discovered the world's largest mammals are singing in deeper voices every year - and they are not sure why.

A study in the journal Endangered Species Research, has found male blue whales all over the world have lowered their tone.

Mark McDonald of WhaleAcoustics first noticed the change about eight years ago when he had to shift automated blue whale song detectors off California to lower frequencies....

Blue whale songs are getting deeper, say baffled scientists | Mail Online

 

[Anti-Hero]

It's a somber tone ...

 

[Chuck Tribolet]

My theory is that with the reduction in whaling, they are making a comeback,
the average age is going up, so the average size is going up. A bigger
acoustic generator will have a lower note.

 

[drbill]

I thought it meant they were singing at deeper depths. Wonder if it has anything to do with the age structure of the population as Chuck suggested.

 

[gonphishing]

I think the world is changing for sure. best wishes to them.