"Kendra Pierre-Louis: For Scientific American's Science Quickly, I'm Kendra Pierre-Louis, in for Rachel Feltman. With some estimates placing the number of Hawaiian monk seals left in the wild at just 1,600, the species is one of the world's most endangered types of seals. Although scientists have studied the creatures' biology, movements and population changes in depth, very little was known about their communicationuntil now. By putting underwater recorders in a handful of important monk-seal habitats across the Hawaiian archipelago, scientists have uncovered 20 new calls."
"Melissa Hobson: That strange noise is the call of a Hawaiian monk seal, one of only two species of monk seal in the world. The call was recorded underwater off the coast of Hawaii as part of a new study. Researchers from the University of Hawaii at Manoa analyzed 4,500-plus hours of acoustic data and heard more than 23,000 vocalizations. Within these sounds the scientists identified 25 distinct calls, 20 of which have never been described before."
Hawaiian monk seals number an estimated 1,600 individuals and rank among the world's most endangered seal species. Underwater recorders placed in key habitats across the Hawaiian archipelago captured over 4,500 hours of acoustic data. Analysts detected more than 23,000 vocalizations and classified 25 distinct calls, of which 20 are newly described. The recordings expand knowledge about monk-seal communication, a previously little-known aspect of their behavior. Observers note that seals are often silent when hauled out and that many vocalizations occur underwater, underscoring the value of acoustic monitoring for conservation and study.
Read at www.scientificamerican.com
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