Differences in Echolocation Click Patterns of the Beluga (Dolphinopterus leucas) and the Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)
Abstract
In an echolocation experiment, the target detection performance of a beluga and a bottlenose dolphin were similar, but each produced different patterns of echolocation click trains. The beluga emitted three different patterns of echolocation clicks. A pattern I click train started with low- amplitude clicks, followed by packets of clicks. A packet contained several clicks with interclick intervals less than the two-way travel time to the target; the interpacket intervals were greater than the two-way travel time. A pattern II click train consisted of individual clicks, some with intervals less than and some greater than the two-way travel time. This pattern did not contain packets. The third pattern of click trains consisted of individual clicks with interclick intervals less than the two-way travel time. However, the bottlenose dolphin always emitted clicks with interclick intervals greater than the two-way travel time. These differences in click patterns suggest that the beluga has a different echolocation strategy than the bottlenose dolphin. Keywords: Dolphins mammals; Cetacea; Marine biological noise; Echo ranging; Ambient noise/ reverberation; Marine biosystems; Reprints.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA224154
Entities
People
- Charles W. Turl
- Ralph H. Penner