Humpback Whales: Exploring Global Diversity and Behavioral Plasticity in an Undersea Virtuoso

Abstract

It has been fifty years since Payne and McVay’s seminal publication on the strange and beautiful sounds of the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), the study which inspired decades of research into their complex, underwater acoustic world. In the subsequent five decades, there probably have been more research projects and publications on humpback whale song than on the vocal behavior of any other baleen whale. What makes humpback song so unique? What have we learned? What questions remain? With this chapter, we explore these questions with an eye toward the overarching theme of studies that address proximate mechanisms (the “how do humpback whales do this?” questions) versus those that inquire about ultimate causes (the “why do humpback whales do this?” questions). We draw a distinction between studies that focus on singing behavior, versus those that use song as a proxy to investigate other biological processes. We take the reader through a historical review of the literature, ending with a series of observations about the unanswered questions intended to provoke new ideas and new lines of inquiry. Through this exploration, we hope to synthesize a global body of research to identify common themes and probe the lingering gaps in our understandings of humpback whale song.

… it does give one pause to realize that the ocean has been resounding with whale song for millions of years, and that the ocean’s inhabitants have long been swimming in the midst of the echoing choruses. It is not altogether surprising to find that humans nearly extinguished the whole source and only in the last few years have we begun to hear the music. (Payne and Payne 1985)