Acoustic Insights into Killer Whale Society
By recording and analyzing the vocalizations of Norwegian killer whales, we uncover how they communicate, maintain social bonds, and how human noise may affect their survival.
Killer whales rely heavily on sound to navigate, hunt, and communicate, using a rich repertoire of clicks, whistles, and pulsed calls. Clicks are primarily used for echolocation, while whistles and pulsed calls carry social information. Different populations around the world are known to have distinct “dialects” and call types, often associated with group identity, family relationships, and even dietary specializations or ecotypes. Despite their importance, acoustic communication in Norwegian killer whales has been little studied until now.
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We systematically record vocalizations using hydrophones deployed from boats and suction-cup-attached multi-sensor tags that capture both sound and movement. Recordings are then linked to group identity, social structure, and prey use to understand how whales recognize one another, maintain social bonds, and coordinate behaviors.
This project aims to assess whether, similar to other regions, Norwegian killer whales have group-specific calls, and subtle differences in acoustic patterns corresponding to diet preferences, such as fish-eating versus mixed-diet (fish and mammals) groups.
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​By revealing patterns of social interaction, cultural transmission, and vocal “dialects,” this research will provide critical insights into population structure, social resilience, and the dynamics of family groups. Long-term acoustic monitoring will also allow us to assess how human activities, such as shipping, recreational boating, or industrial noise, may interfere with communication, offering actionable guidance for conservation and management strategies aimed at protecting these highly social marine predators.