First evidence of underwater vocalizations in green sea turtles Chelonia mydas
Marine turtles have long been considered to be silent, but few investigations have been performed to confirm such muteness. However, recent studies on the aerial and underwater hearing abilities of marine turtles have shown they have an ability to perceive sounds, suggesting the potential existence...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Inter-Research
2022-05-01
|
| Series: | Endangered Species Research |
| Online Access: | https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/esr/v48/p31-41/ |
| _version_ | 1811238949529583616 |
|---|---|
| author | I Charrier L Jeantet L Maucourt S Régis N Lecerf A Benhalilou D Chevallier |
| author_facet | I Charrier L Jeantet L Maucourt S Régis N Lecerf A Benhalilou D Chevallier |
| author_sort | I Charrier |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Marine turtles have long been considered to be silent, but few investigations have been performed to confirm such muteness. However, recent studies on the aerial and underwater hearing abilities of marine turtles have shown they have an ability to perceive sounds, suggesting the potential existence of acoustic communication among them. In the present study, audio-video recorders were deployed on 11 free-ranging juvenile green sea turtles Chelonia mydas at Grande Anse d’Arlet in Martinique. The recordings revealed that the turtles produced 10 different sound types that were classified into 4 main categories: pulses, low-amplitude calls (LAC), frequency-modulated sounds, and squeaks. Although other turtles were not observed in close proximity to tagged turtles during the recordings, some of the described sounds were found in most recorded individuals and their frequency characteristics ranged within the underwater hearing range of green sea turtles, suggesting that the sounds could be used for intra-specific communication. While control recordings in the study area without the presence of green sea turtles contained sounds with similar general structure (pulses, LAC), the acoustic characteristics were significantly different to those recorded for green sea turtles. The 2 types of squeaks identified for the turtles were found to be individual-specific, also suggesting they could be used for intra-species communication. Further research on sea turtles is needed to better understand the behavioral and social context of these acoustic productions, especially during the developmental period and breeding season. Thus, the vocal repertoire of green sea turtles is likely to be more diverse than that currently described. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T12:51:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2222d0a9dca442adbd9d04bce5f844af |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1863-5407 1613-4796 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T12:51:17Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | Inter-Research |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Endangered Species Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-2222d0a9dca442adbd9d04bce5f844af2022-12-22T03:32:28ZengInter-ResearchEndangered Species Research1863-54071613-47962022-05-0148314110.3354/esr01185First evidence of underwater vocalizations in green sea turtles Chelonia mydasI Charrier0L Jeantet1L Maucourt2S Régis3N Lecerf4A Benhalilou5D Chevallier6Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, 91405 Orsay, FranceInstitut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, UMR 7178 CNRS/Unistra, 67087 Strasbourg, FranceInstitut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, 91405 Orsay, FranceBOREA Research Unit, MNHN, CNRS 7208, Sorbonne Université, IRD 207, UCN, UA, 75231 Paris, FranceBOREA Research Unit, MNHN, CNRS 7208, Sorbonne Université, IRD 207, UCN, UA, 75231 Paris, FranceAssociation POEMM, 73 Lot Papayers, Anse à l’Âne, 97229 Les Trois Îlets, FranceBOREA Research Unit, MNHN, CNRS 7208, Sorbonne Université, IRD 207, UCN, UA, 75231 Paris, FranceMarine turtles have long been considered to be silent, but few investigations have been performed to confirm such muteness. However, recent studies on the aerial and underwater hearing abilities of marine turtles have shown they have an ability to perceive sounds, suggesting the potential existence of acoustic communication among them. In the present study, audio-video recorders were deployed on 11 free-ranging juvenile green sea turtles Chelonia mydas at Grande Anse d’Arlet in Martinique. The recordings revealed that the turtles produced 10 different sound types that were classified into 4 main categories: pulses, low-amplitude calls (LAC), frequency-modulated sounds, and squeaks. Although other turtles were not observed in close proximity to tagged turtles during the recordings, some of the described sounds were found in most recorded individuals and their frequency characteristics ranged within the underwater hearing range of green sea turtles, suggesting that the sounds could be used for intra-specific communication. While control recordings in the study area without the presence of green sea turtles contained sounds with similar general structure (pulses, LAC), the acoustic characteristics were significantly different to those recorded for green sea turtles. The 2 types of squeaks identified for the turtles were found to be individual-specific, also suggesting they could be used for intra-species communication. Further research on sea turtles is needed to better understand the behavioral and social context of these acoustic productions, especially during the developmental period and breeding season. Thus, the vocal repertoire of green sea turtles is likely to be more diverse than that currently described.https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/esr/v48/p31-41/ |
| spellingShingle | I Charrier L Jeantet L Maucourt S Régis N Lecerf A Benhalilou D Chevallier First evidence of underwater vocalizations in green sea turtles Chelonia mydas Endangered Species Research |
| title | First evidence of underwater vocalizations in green sea turtles Chelonia mydas |
| title_full | First evidence of underwater vocalizations in green sea turtles Chelonia mydas |
| title_fullStr | First evidence of underwater vocalizations in green sea turtles Chelonia mydas |
| title_full_unstemmed | First evidence of underwater vocalizations in green sea turtles Chelonia mydas |
| title_short | First evidence of underwater vocalizations in green sea turtles Chelonia mydas |
| title_sort | first evidence of underwater vocalizations in green sea turtles chelonia mydas |
| url | https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/esr/v48/p31-41/ |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT icharrier firstevidenceofunderwatervocalizationsingreenseaturtlescheloniamydas AT ljeantet firstevidenceofunderwatervocalizationsingreenseaturtlescheloniamydas AT lmaucourt firstevidenceofunderwatervocalizationsingreenseaturtlescheloniamydas AT sregis firstevidenceofunderwatervocalizationsingreenseaturtlescheloniamydas AT nlecerf firstevidenceofunderwatervocalizationsingreenseaturtlescheloniamydas AT abenhalilou firstevidenceofunderwatervocalizationsingreenseaturtlescheloniamydas AT dchevallier firstevidenceofunderwatervocalizationsingreenseaturtlescheloniamydas |