Exploring the vast oceans where humpback whales live has revealed fascinating insights into their complex world of sound. These marine giants use a wide variety of sounds, including intricate songs and social calls, to navigate and communicate in their underwater environment. With their ability to produce long-distance vocalizations that evolve over time, whales demonstrate a level of acoustic skill that is both impressive and mysterious. Understanding these sounds offers a unique opportunity to study intelligence in animals and explore the possibility of meaningful interactions between humans and other species.
In a great effort, Professor Brenda McCowan from University of California her team engaged an Alaskan humpback whale in a “conversation” through sound. This study focused on how these whales respond to human-made playback of their vocalizations. Playback refers to the technique of broadcasting recorded sounds to observe an animal’s reaction. Published in the journal PeerJ, the research highlights the potential for understanding animal communication systems in new ways.
The experiment centered around an adult female humpback whale, nicknamed Twain, who responded to a series of recorded whale calls known as “whup” sounds. These sounds are a type of contact call, used by humpbacks to maintain social bonds and coordinate with one another. Over a 20-minute interaction, Twain’s reactions were recorded and analyzed. “This experiment offered an extraordinary look into how animals like whales might take turns in conversation-like exchanges, showing flexibility and responsiveness,” Professor McCowan shared.
Throughout the interaction, Twain’s behavior changed in noticeable ways, moving through phases of active engagement, visible agitation, and eventual disengagement. Engagement here refers to her active participation, where she responded directly to the sounds. During the initial phase, her responses closely matched the timing of the human-played sounds, suggesting she was actively participating in a back-and-forth exchange. Sophisticated tools were used to analyze the timing and patterns of her calls, revealing how closely she adapted to the rhythm of the playback.
Dr. Laurance Doyle, one of the co-authors from SETI Institute, reflected on the study’s broader significance: “If whales show behavior resembling conversations, it raises big questions about how communication and intelligence evolve across different species.”
These findings are not just about whales’ reactions; they also provide insights into how we design studies to interact with other intelligent animals. The researchers emphasize the need for adaptive and interactive approaches when creating experiments. Adaptive playbacks allow researchers to adjust the broadcast based on the animal’s real-time responses, making the interaction more dynamic. Traditional methods that rely on static or repetitive playback often fail to capture the full range of animal responses, limiting our understanding of their capabilities.
The results also hint at the complex cognitive abilities of humpback whales, such as recognizing specific calls and adjusting their behavior accordingly. Cognitive abilities here refer to the mental processes involved in learning, understanding, and responding to information. While it is unclear whether Twain recognized her own voice or that of a group member in the playback, her reactions suggest she found the sounds familiar and engaging. This opens the door to further exploration of whales’ social memory and awareness.
Professor McCowan explained the implications of this work: “Delving deeper into whale communication can change how we approach conservation, giving us tools to better understand and protect these extraordinary creatures.”
This study invites us to consider the rich and often overlooked inner lives of animals. By uncovering the depths of whale communication, we can begin to foster more meaningful connections with the natural world, bridging the gap between species.
Journal Reference
McCowan B., Hubbard J., Walker L., Sharpe F., Frediani J., Doyle L. “Interactive bioacoustic playback as a tool for detecting and exploring nonhuman intelligence: “Conversing” with an Alaskan humpback whale.” PeerJ (2023). DOI: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.16349
About the Author
Professor Brenda McCowan is a renowned researcher in animal behavior and communication, with a focus on understanding the cognitive and social complexity of nonhuman species. Based at the University of California, Davis, she holds a position in the Population Health and Reproduction division, where her work bridges the fields of animal science, bioacoustics, and behavioral ecology.
Her groundbreaking studies explore the intricate ways animals communicate and the implications of these systems for understanding intelligence and social dynamics. From studying the vocal patterns of marine mammals like humpback whales to analyzing communication in primates, McCowan has made significant contributions to both theoretical knowledge and practical applications, such as conservation and animal welfare.
With a commitment to interdisciplinary research, she collaborates with experts worldwide to uncover the connections between animal communication and cognitive abilities. Passionate about education, she also mentors the next generation of scientists, inspiring curiosity and innovation in the study of animal intelligence.
