A5053021922- Marine animal studies overview
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Underwater Acoustics Research
- Marine and fisheries research
- Arctic and Antarctic ice dynamics
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Cephalopods and Marine Biology
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Underwater Vehicles and Communication Systems
- Educational Robotics and Engineering
- Infant Health and Development
- Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Ichthyology and Marine Biology
- Marine and coastal plant biology
- Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
- Diverse Musicological Studies
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Animal Genetics and Reproduction
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Aquaculture disease management and microbiota
- Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Marine and environmental studies
- Human-Animal Interaction Studies
Stellenbosch University
2020-2025
University of Cape Town
2016-2025
University of Pretoria
2013-2016
Iziko Museums of South Africa
2013-2014
Mammal Research Institute
2014
University of St Andrews
2012-2013
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
2007
Illinois Institute of Technology
2007
Acoustical Society of America
2007
Jazz Pharmaceuticals (Italy)
2007
Abstract Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) involves recording the sounds of animals and environments for research conservation. PAM is used in a range contexts across terrestrial, marine freshwater environments. However, financial constraints limit applications within aquatic environments; these costs include high cost submersible recorders. We quantify this constraint using systematic literature review all ecoacoustic studies published 2020, demonstrating that commercially available...
A signature whistle type is a learned, individually distinctive in dolphin's acoustic repertoire that broadcasts the identity of owner. The acquisition and use whistles indicates complex cognitive functioning requires wider investigation wild dolphin populations. Here we identify types from population approximately 100 common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) inhabiting Walvis Bay, describe occurrence, parameters temporal production. catalogue 43 repeatedly emitted (REWTs) was...
Abstract Acoustical geographic variation is common in widely distributed species and it already described for several taxa, at various scales. In cetaceans, intraspecific acoustic repertoires has been linked to ecological factors, geographical barriers, social processes. For the bottlenose dolphin ( Tursiops truncatus ), studies on variability are scarce, focus a single signal type—whistles influence of environmental variables. Here, we analyze emissions nine populations across Atlantic...
Abstract Common bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops truncatus ) use individually distinctive signature whistles which are highly stereotyped and function as contact calls. Here we investigate whether Indo‐Pacific T. aduncus whistles. The frequency trace of whistle contours recorded from three genetically distinct free‐ranging populations was extracted sorted into types similar shape using automated categorization. A identification method based on the temporal patterns in sequences used to...
AbstractDescribing the repertoire of sounds produced by wild cetaceans is necessary for understanding their function, acoustic population monitoring and measuring potential influence anthropogenic impact. Geographic variation in types parameters makes regional assessment vocal behaviour necessary. We describe a small common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) inhabiting Walvis Bay, Namibia from recordings made over 59 encounters (72 h) between 2009 2012. The characteristics burst pulse...
Abstract Robust abundance estimates of wild animal populations are needed to inform management policies and often obtained through mark–recapture (MR) studies. Visual methods commonly used, which limits data collection daylight hours good weather conditions. Passive acoustic monitoring offers an alternative, particularly if cues naturally produced individually distinctive. Here we investigate the potential using distinctive signature whistles in a MR framework evaluate different components...
Allomaternal care includes a nonfilial conspecific individual provisioning to dependent young, for example, feeding them, protecting or training them (Wilson 1975). This can be given during short time window (hours days), longer but still temporary period, on long-term basis until weaning. Although different terms are used describe allomaternal and there appears no consensus what behaviors it includes, we distinguish here between the term "allonursing" referring provision of over period (a...
Marine bioacoustics, the study of how marine organisms produce and are affected by sound, has become a cornerstone in ocean conservation efforts. Underwater microphones, known as hydrophones, can be used for ecosystem health monitoring, species distribution studies, impact assessment, anti-poaching compliance, protected area management, climate change research restoration However, high cost complexity current autonomous hydrophone recording systems limit accessibility, particularly...
ABSTRACT Humpback whale ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) super‐groups, comprising 20+, tightly aggregated, feeding individuals, form during the austral summer in southern Benguela ecosystem off west coast of South Africa. This phenomenon, observed since 2011, is thought to be linked increased productivity from positive chlorophyll‐a anomalies associated with reduced water export area, and possible changes trophic structures. Oceanographic conditions vary over time space, so that super‐groups...
A novel framework for acoustic detection and species identification is proposed to aid passive monitoring studies on the endangered Indian Ocean humpback dolphin (Sousa plumbea) in South African waters. Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) were used both of vocalisations tasks, performance was evaluated using custom pre-trained architectures (transfer learning). In total, 723 min data annotated presence whistles, burst pulses echolocation clicks produced by Delphinus delphis (~45.6%),...
Populations of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) are distributed along coastal regions the south-west Indian Ocean (SWIO), from South Africa to Kenya. An account whistles wild T. aduncus inhabiting SWIO is provided here. Recordings were made at Plettenberg Bay (South Africa) and Zanzibar Island (Tanzania) frequency trace whistle contours (n = 1677) was extracted. Multiple parameters measured each compared between encounters. Regional variation significant in all assessed...
Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) is commonly used to generate information on the distribution, abundance, and behavior of cetacean species. In African waters, utilization PAM lags behind most other continents. This study examines whether whistles three coastal delphinid species (Delphinus delphis, Tursiops truncatus, aduncus) encountered in southern subregion can be readily distinguished using both statistical analysis standard whistle parameters automated detection classification software...
The costs of predation may exert significant pressure on the mode communication used by an animal, and many species balance benefits (e.g. mate attraction) against potential risk predation. Four groups toothed whales have independently evolved narrowband high-frequency (NBHF) echolocation signals. These signals help NBHF avoid through acoustic crypsis echolocating communicating at frequencies inaudible to predators such as mammal-eating killer whales. Heaviside's dolphins ( Cephalorhynchus...
ABSTRACT Dwarf sperm whales (Kogia sima) are small toothed that produce narrow-band high-frequency (NBHF) echolocation clicks. Such NBHF clicks, subject to high levels of acoustic absorption, usually produced by small, shallow-diving odontocetes, such as porpoises, in keeping with their short-range and fast click rates. Here, we sought address the problem how little-studied deep-diving Kogia can hunt clicks deep sea. Specifically, tested hypotheses longer inter-click intervals (ICIs), higher...
Humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) from a breeding ground off Gabon (0–4°S) and migratory corridor/feeding on the west coast of South Africa (WSA; 33°S) differ genetically in catch histories. Interpretation population structure is hampered by lack data intervening 3,500 km coastline or to north Gabon. Here we collate all relevant nongenetic humpback Namibia (∼23°S) 2005 2012 compare these with corresponding (2000–2006) WSA (1983–2008). Data include photographic catalogs dorsal fin...
ABSTRACT The Cape fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus) is one of the most colonial mammals, with colonies up to hundreds thousands individuals during breeding season. During lactation period, mothers and pups are regularly separated as females undertake multi-day foraging trips at sea. Mothers use a mutual vocal recognition system reunite after separation. Such communication highly constrained by both high background noise risk individual confusion owing density seals. This study aimed...
The bottlenose dolphin, genus Tursiops is one of the best studied all Cetacea with a minimum two species widely recognised. Common dolphins (T. truncatus), are cetacean most frequently held in captivity and known to hybridize from at least 6 different genera. In this study, we document several intra-generic hybridization events between T. truncatus aduncus captivity. We demonstrate that F1 hybrids fertile can backcross producing apparently healthy offspring, thereby showing introgressive...
Cetacean watching from tour boats has increased in recent years. However, short- and long-term impacts of this industry on the behavior energetic expenditure cetaceans have been documented. Although multiple studies investigated acoustic response dolphins to marine tourism, there are several covariates that could also explain some these results should be considered simultaneously. Here, we whether common bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, inhabiting Walvis Bay, Namibia vary their...
Abstract The Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean (ASSO) has one highest densities Antarctic krill ( Euphausia superba ) compared to other polar and subpolar regions, which attracts migratory baleen whale species aggregate in this area for feeding. Humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae also sing extensively while on feeding grounds allows exploration song similarity between breeding populations helps understand population mixing. results comparative analyses ASSO Ecuadorian Brazilian...