Data from: The effects of vessel noise on the communication network of humpback whales

Humpback whales likely rely on acoustic communication to mediate social
interactions. The distance to which these social signals propagate from
the signaller defines its communication space, and therefore communication
network (number of potential receivers). As humpback whales migrate along
populated coastlines, they are likely to encounter noise from vessel
traffic which will mask their social signals. Since no empirical data
exists on baleen whale hearing, the consequences of this are usually
assumed, being the modelled reduction in their communication space. Here,
the communication space and network of migrating humpback whales was
compared in increasing wind-dominated and vessel noise. Behavioural data
on their social interactions were then used to inform these models. In
typical wind noise, a signaller’s communication space was estimated to
extend to 4 km, which agreed with the maximum separation distance between
groups that socially interacted. An increase in vessel noise reduced the
modelled communication area by a factor of four, along with a significant
reduction in group social interactions, likely due to a reduction in their
communication network. However, signal masking did not fully explain this
change in social behaviour, implying there was also an additional effect
of the physical presence of the vessel on signaller and receiver
behaviour. Though these observed changes in communication space and social
behaviour were likely to be short-term and localised, an increase in
vessel activity due to tourism and coastal population growth may cause
more sustained changes along the humpback whale migration paths.