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Underwater vocalization behavior of Harbor Seals ( Phoca vitulina )
Willmer, J.; Watson, M.S.; Eriksson, B.K.; van Opzeeland, I. (2025). Underwater vocalization behavior of Harbor Seals ( Phoca vitulina ). Mar. Mamm. Sci. 42(1): e70056. https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/mms.70056
In: Marine Mammal Science. Society for Marine Mammalogy: Lawrence. ISSN 0824-0469; e-ISSN 1748-7692
Peer reviewed article  
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Author keywords
    acoustic behavior; harbor seals; pinnipeds; vocalization; Wadden Sea
Authors  Top 
  • Willmer, J.
  • Watson, M.S.
  • Eriksson, B.K.
  • van Opzeeland, I.
Abstract
    Harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) are one of the most important apex-predators in the Wadden Sea. However, baseline information on their distribution and behavior is still sparse and geographically restricted. Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) of their underwater sounds can provide information about their fine-scaled distribution and habitat use. This study is the first to analyze underwater vocal behavior of harbor seals in the Wadden Sea, exploring temporal patterns and characteristics of vocalizations. Passive acoustic data from the Dutch Wadden Sea were collected east of Lauwersoog during the breeding season in July 2021 and south of the island of Vlieland in September 2022. We describe and document four acoustically distinct harbor seal call types based on spectro-temporal call characteristics. Results showed a significantly higher vocal activity for two out of the four call types during the breeding season and clear differences in the dial distribution of calls. The results of this study provide a basis for PAM-based monitoring of harbor seal activity and a potential fundament for AI-based call detection algorithms. The increasing evidence for the importance of underwater sound for aquatic habitat quality and suitability emphasizes the need to acoustically map critical habitats and document the natural sounds of living organisms.
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