Sperm whales change sounds when ships are nearby
Sperm whales change ‘vowel’ sounds when boats are nearby, scientists discover
- Level
- B2
- Estimated time
- 30–40 minutes
- Reading
- 1 min read
The story
Researchers from Project Ceti spent four years listening to 15 sperm whales off the coast of Dominica. Project Ceti is a research group trying to decode whale calls, and the team used non-invasive methods to collect data.
Sperm whales communicate with codas, short patterns of clicks. The team found that individual codas became shorter when ships were nearby, and one coda type, a 1-1-3 click pattern, was faster for a whale called Atwood.
The researchers also found that in noisy shipping conditions whales used one vowel-like sound more often, described as 'aaaa'. By analysing more than 1,000 recordings and verifying ship positions with geolocation, the scientists said they can often predict if vessels are present from vocalisations alone.
The study, published in Ecological Informatics, raises questions about how ships affect whale communication and about policy. Some critics have questioned the methods, but the finding shows clear changes in click tempo and type when background shipping noise is detected.
Key vocabulary
- sperm whales
- A large species of whale that makes distinctive clicking sounds.
- codas
- Short patterns of clicks that sperm whales use to communicate.
- clicks
- Short, loud sounds produced by whales as part of codas.
- ships
- Large boats that can produce background noise in the ocean.
- drones
- Unmanned aircraft used to attach audio tags to whales.
- recordings
- Audio files made to capture whale sounds for study.
- predict
- To say what will happen based on information or patterns.
- vocalisations
- Sounds produced by animals to communicate, such as whale clicks.
Comprehension check
Write your answer, reveal the model answer, then score yourself honestly.
1. Where did the researchers study the sperm whales?
2. How many sperm whales did the team listen to?
3. What happened to individual codas when ships were nearby?
4. Which vowel-like sound did whales use more in noisy conditions?
5. How did scientists verify that ships were in the whales' vicinity?
Grammar focus
Connecting words
Connecting words like when, by and because link ideas or show cause and time. They help readers understand relationships between events and actions.
- The team found that individual codas became shorter when ships were nearby, and one coda type, a 1-1-3 click pattern, was faster for a whale called Atwood.
- By analysing more than 1,000 recordings and verifying ship positions with geolocation, the scientists said they can often predict if vessels are present from vocalisations alone.
Grammar exercise
Fill each gap with the correct connecting word. Each sentence shows a verb from the reading in brackets.
1. ___ ships were nearby this week, codas (become) shorter.
2. Whales used 'aaaa' more often ___ shipping noise (be) present.
3. ___ analysing recordings this month, scientists (predict) vessels more easily.
4. Some critics questioned methods ___ the study (be) published already.
5. Drones attached tags ___ keep recordings minimally invasive (attach).
Discussion
For reflection or speaking practice — not graded.
- What effects might changes in whale communication have on whale social life?
- Should boat traffic be limited in important whale areas? Why or why not?
- How could technology help reduce the impact of shipping noise on whales?
- What other animals might change their sounds because of human noise?