Whale Song Communication

Humpback whale songs are complex, evolving vocalizations that travel thousands of kilometers underwater, as revealed by Roger Payne and Scott McVay's landmark 1971 publication. Data from hydrophone arrays show these songs change seasonally and geographically, with males sharing new phrases across entire ocean basins within a single year. This finding is faster than the average marine communication study in altering public perception, catalyzing the global save-the-whales movement and reshaping views on cetacean intelligence.