Skip to content

Nature

'Remixes' top humpback whale song charts

by Martin Leggett 14 Apr 2011
'Remixes' top humpback whale song charts

The songs of humpback whales spread across the oceans like contagious pop songs, according to an online study published today in Current Biology. And not only do humpback whales from the Pacific pass on 'catchy' tunes to their peers in just one breeding season - they often mix-and-match elements of last-season's hits with breaking new music, to create 'remixed' versions of the originals.

The study of the ebb-and-flow of humpback whale song - making was conducted over a decade, by University of Queensland researchers, with help from members of the South Pacific Whale Research Consortium. The idea was to search for patterns in whale songs, and to see how songs evolved over time.

What they found was that new whale songs make a big initial splash, spreading across the Pacific quickly, so that all males are soon singing from the same sheet. Then, each breeding season, new 'riffs' are thrown in, which mash up last year's big hit - and these also get picked up and passed out across the water waves. Occasionally the song-sheet is cleared completely, when a totally new song catches on 'big time'.

It is the male humpback whales that are the submarine vocalists, but the reasons for them singing have not yet been pinned down. It is almost certainly a mating display - but whether to impress the girls, or to scare away competing males is uncertain. But the push to innovate in song-making may start with the need to stand out with a unique musical 'style'.

Ellen Garland, a graduate member of the team, describes the dynamics of the whale's singing as a tug-of-war between being an individual and conforming.

''We think this male quest for song novelty is in the hope of being that little bit different and perhaps more attractive to the opposite sex,'' she said. ''This is then countered by the urge to sing the same tune, by the need to conform.''

The trends in singing also seem to move one-way only - from Australia in the west to Polynesia in the east - and the authors sees this as being because of the greater populations in the western Pacific, which dominates the cultural evolution. In fact, the obvious evidence of culture being passed over vast distances, from individual to individual, is a first for studies in the animal kingdom - outside of man.

''Our findings reveal cultural change on a vast scale,'' said Garland. It would seem that mankind is not alone in swaying to the rhythms of changing musical fashion.

Credit: Current Biology, Garland: Humpback whales have their own version of the hit single, according to a study reported online on April 14 in Current Biology, a Cell Press publication. At any given time within a population, male humpbacks all sing the same mating tune. But the pattern of the song changes over time, with the new and apparently catchy versions of the song spreading repeatedly across the ocean, almost always traveling from west to east.


Trending Eco-Friendly Clothing

Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Love My Planet women's eco-friendly relaxed fit hoodieSize Guide Centimeters 8 10 12 14 16 18 Bust 84 88 92 97 103 108 Waist 66 70 75 80 85 91 Hips 91 95 99 104 109 116 Bust: Measure around the fullest part of...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Penguins Hate Push-Ups men's eco-friendly pullover HoodieSize Guide Centimeters XS S M L XL XXL Height 171 175 179 183 189 195 Chest 86 93 99 104 116 129 Waist 71 76 81 89 99 112 Chest: Measure all round your chest just below...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Lightning Bolt kids eco-friendly long sleeve t-shirtSize Guide Centimeters 3-4yrs 5-6yrs 7-8yrs 9-10yrs 11-12yrs Height 98 112 125 136 147 Chest 60 66 70 75 84 Chest: Measure all around your chest just below your armpits. Height: Your natural height If you fall between...
£18.00
£18.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Union Jack eco-friendly colour tote bagProduct Specification Organic Cotton Tote Bag. Twill Weave (170gsm). 37 x 42 cm (7cm gusset.) Made in India / Designed on the Isle of Wight. Wash Cool, Hang Dry.
£16.00
£16.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Prev Post
Next Post

Eco-Friendly Shop

Women's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Women Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable women’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Men's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Men Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable men’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Kids Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothes for Kids Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable kids clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies and jumpers. Our garments...
Shop Now
Someone recently bought a
[time] ago, from [location]

Thanks for subscribing!

This email has been registered!

Shop the look

Choose Options

Earth Times
Sign up for exclusive updates, new arrivals & insider only discounts

Recently Viewed

Edit Option
Back In Stock Notification
this is just a warning
Login
Shopping Cart
0 items

Before you leave...

Take 20% off your first order

20% off

Enter the code below at checkout to get 20% off your first order

CODESALE20

Continue Shopping