Vocal behavior in spotted seals (Phoca largha) and implications for passive acoustic monitoring

Passive acoustic methods enable remote monitoring of marine species and habitats. These methods can be applied to investigate distribution and abundance of populations, to evaluate behavioral and physiological states of individuals, and to inform management efforts for animals that live in hard-to-reach places. Spotted seals (Phoca largha) inhabit high-latitude, light-limited sub-Arctic and Arctic waters and move seasonally with unstable sea ice. They are high trophic level predators vulnerable to changing conditions associated with environmental warming. At present, an incomplete characterization of the spotted seal vocal repertoire limits our ability to monitor this species acoustically. Captive studies can inform passive acoustic efforts by describing fundamental features of species-typical vocalizations emitted by known individuals. These features include acoustic parameters as well as developmental, seasonal, and sex-specific patterns in vocal behavior. Here, several male spotted s...被动声学方法（Passive Acoustic Methods）可用于海洋物种与栖息地的远程监测。该方法可用于调查种群分布与丰度、评估个体行为与生理状态，并为栖息于人迹罕至区域的动物的管理工作提供科学依据。斑海豹（Phoca largha）栖息于高纬度、光照受限的亚北极与北极水域，且会随不稳定海冰进行季节性迁移。作为高营养级捕食者，它们极易受到环境变暖引发的环境变化的影响。目前，斑海豹声曲目（vocal repertoire）的特征刻画仍不完整，这限制了我们对该物种开展声学监测的能力。圈养研究可通过描述已知个体发出的物种典型发声的核心特征，为被动声学监测工作提供支撑。这些特征涵盖声学参数，以及发声行为中的发育、季节与性别特异性模式。在此，本研究选取了数头雄性斑海豹[原文未完整展示]