Latest

Related Posts

Toothed Whales Use “Vocal Fry” to Find Food, claims Scientists

He observes that many people are speaking. They predominantly use what is known as a chest register. This is the typical way we speak.

- Advertisement -

At the Copenhagen airport, Coen Elemans awaited the departure of his flight. The intercom broadcast a steady stream of safety and passenger announcements. Elemans, a bioacoustics expert from the University of Southern Denmark, stated, “Usually, nobody speaks at this airport.” He claims that the airport is a good place to observe people’s vocalisations on a day when there is a great deal of conversation.

He observes that many people are speaking. They predominantly use what is known as a chest register. This is the typical way we speak. Elemans then hears the sound of music. It is when our higher-pitched vocal range, or falsetto, can be heard most often. Moreover, humans have a lower register than the frequency range in which we typically speak. This phrase is vociferous.

- Advertisement -

It is commonly understood in English as something that modifies the sentiment or attitude of what is expressed. It is something for which some individuals, such as Leonard Cohen and Kim Kardashian, are well-known. This, according to Elemans, alters the meaning of words in other languages, such as Danish.

By moving air through the vocal folds in the larynx, we are able to produce all three of the following sounds:

The vocal crackle, the chest voice, and the falsetto (a structure that allows air to pass from your throat to the rest of your respiratory system). The vocal folds vibrate differently for each register. “According to Elemans, when you are in a vocal fry register, your vocal folds are thick, heavy, and tremble at their lowest frequencies. In the falsetto range, they are additionally stretched and under intense tension.

Consequently, the most significant frequencies follow.” Elemans pondered whether a similar mechanism that allows toothed whales (such as bottlenose dolphins, orcas, and pilot whales) to produce a variety of vocalisations also operates in these animals. Whistles, bursts (the sounds we associate with Flipper), and echolocation click sound pulses are examples of these sounds.

According to Elemans, these clicks function “more or less like a flashlight to scan their environment with a highly focused beam.” Even though toothed whales possess a larynx, it is inactive. Elemans assert that they have instead developed a “new structure that is placed in their nose and makes the sounds—called phonic lips.”

Observing the phonic lips in action over a long period of time has been challenging. Due to technological limitations, we are unable to observe whales at the depths where they commonly feed. However, Elemans and his colleagues developed a variety of tests to examine these animals’ interiors. In the latest issue of the journal Science, they present their findings.

They began by inserting endoscopes into the blowholes of a few dolphins and porpoises held in captivity and trained. The tiny camera had to get close enough to the phonic lips in order to capture them quickly; it did not have to travel very far. Elemans concludes, “And we demonstrate the movement of the [lips] during the production of echolocation clicks.

They needed recently deceased animals for their upcoming study. Elemans responds, “That is a tremendous obstacle.” When a person dies, they typically sink. Due to the lack of access to new tissue, studying their physiology is extraordinarily difficult. Elemans and the others, however, collected harbour porpoises that had died in the wild by collaborating with marine animal stranding networks, primarily in Germany. Following this, they made phonic lip movements with air.

“We demonstrated that these phonic lips are not moved by muscle control, unlike when a cat purrs for instance. In contrast, they are produced by airflow, just like human speech. Indeed, that is a remarkable analogy.” Further research combining vocalisation analysis and a type of CT scan revealed that, like humans, toothed whales likely have distinct vocal ranges that produce their diverse sounds.

In addition, the various registers serve different purposes. The team discovered that echolocation in toothed whales is caused by the vocal fry register by recording the sounds of wild animals during their dives (by attaching acoustic tags to specific animals) as well as those of trained porpoises and dolphins.

According to Kelly Benoit-Bird, Science Chair at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, “this work’s strength is that it integrates field observations of [toothed whale] sounds and laboratory studies of physiology with our understanding of the evolution of marine mammals to provide a clear, comprehensive picture of how dolphins produce the essential, diverse repertoire of sounds for their survival.”

Benoit-Bird, a non-participant in the study, emphasises how the researchers approached this scientific issue from multiple vantage points. The picture of dolphin sound creation has finally emerged as a result of work that assembled the puzzle pieces, determined how they fit together, and filled in the blanks.

Evolutionary biologist Agnese Lanzetti, who was not involved in the study and works at the University of Birmingham, concurs. She claims that “this is the best research demonstrating how the sounds are produced mechanically and to demonstrate that these noises are formed by air.” In toothed whales, air behaves differently than it does in our bodies while we are on land.

A sperm whale’s lungs will burst under pressure when it descends several thousand feet below the water’s surface. Yet, air may still circulate and power echolocation inside the bony nasal structure. “According to Elemans, “these toothed whales can generate much larger pressures to operate the system because they move all the air into the nose. And because of that, they can produce some of the loudest animal sounds on earth.”

Popular Articles

We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners. View more
Cookies settings
Accept
Privacy & Cookie policy
Privacy & Cookies policy
Cookie name Active
PRIVACY POLICY
  1. General
  • (1.1.) Eduvast (“Eduvast”, “We”, “Our”, “Us”) is committed to the protection of personal information provided by the users (“You”,“Your”,“User”) to Eduvast. You agree that Your use of Eduvast implies Your consent to the collection, retention and use of Your personal information in accordance with the terms of this Privacy Policy (“Privacy Policy”).
  • (1.2.) We take the privacy of our Users seriously. We are committed to safeguarding the privacy of Users while providing personalized and valuable service.
  • (1.3.) While We do Our best to protect Your information, particularly with respect to the protection of Your personal data, Eduvast cannot ensure the security of Your data transmitted via the internet, telephone or any other networks.
  • (1.4.) Access to the contents available  is conditional upon Your acceptance of this Privacy Policy which should be read together with the End User License Agreement“EULA”.
  • (1.5.) If You do not agree to any of the provisions of this Privacy Policy or EULA, You should not download, install and use the App. We may revise, alter, add, amend or modify this Privacy Policy at any time by updating this privacy policy. By downloading, installing and/or using this App, You agree to be bound by any such alteration, amendment, addition or modification.
2. Information Collected Non Personal Information
  • (2.1.) We may collect non-personal information about You whenever You access or interact with Our Website or any of the related services. This includes but not limited to browser name, version, server location, device specific information such as the type of device used, users’ operating system and version, your mobile devices unique device ID, third party apps or App or service that referred users to App, language preference, means of connection to App, internet service providers, IP address, technical information, google advertising ID (GAID), IDFA, GAID Opt-out Status, location information, interaction of Your device with the App and applications, details of Your device including without limitation its manufacturer details, height and width of your device screen, model, version, UDID or IMEI Number and other similar information about You(collectively "Traffic Data”). Personal Information
  • (2.2.) 2.2. We may collect personal information that identifies You in a variety of ways, including, but not limited to the information submitted during download and installation of the App or in connection with registration for other activities or features offered through the App. Personally identifiable information collected may include name, mailing address, email address, phone number and demographic information such as gender, nationality, postcode and other personal information including but not limited to date, time or place of birth ("Personal Information"). If You communicate with Us by, for example, e-mail or letter, any information provided in such communication may be collected by Eduvast.
  • (2.3.) Our website may transmit your Personal Information to our internal servers. This Personal Information is immediately deleted once you delete the App, except to the extent it is necessary to store the same under applicable laws. Further, we have implemented commercially reasonable physical, managerial, operational and technical security measures to protect the loss, misuse and alteration and to preserve the security of the Personal Information in our care.Finally, this information is used strictly in line with our business purposes.
  • (2.4.) You understand that once You leave Our servers, use of any information You provide shall be governed by the privacy policy of the operator of the site used by You.
3. Disclosure of Personal Information
    • (3.1.) We do not disclose Your Personal Information to any third parties other than as may be required by us, Eduvast’s affiliates, partners, trusted business networks, in compliance with our Privacy Policy for the purpose of moderating the content of the Website, enhancing Your user experience, providing You localised content and to enable Us and Our partners to provide You with targeted information which may be of benefit to you.
    • (3.2.) To enhance customer experience and to provide focused support, we may share generic aggregated demographic information which may include Your information collected by Us but not linked to any personally identifiable information regarding visitors and users with Our business partners, trusted affiliates and advertisers for the purposes outlined above.
    • (3.3.) At times We are required by law or litigation to disclose personal information about the users. We may also disclose information about the user if We determine that disclosure of information is necessary for national security, law enforcement, or other issues of public importance.
    • (3.4.) We use Our best efforts to use information in aggregate form (so that no individual User is identified) for the following purposes:
(3.4.1) To build up marketing profiles; (3.4.2) To aid strategic development, data collection and business analytics; (3.4.3) To manage our relationship with advertisers and partners; (3.4.4) 3.4.4. To audit usage of Our website i.e. www.www.eduvast.com (3.4.5) 3.4.5. To enhance user experience in relation to the App and Our website (collectively, “Permitted Use”).
  • (3.5.) We reserve the right to disclose Personal Information if required to do so by law or if we believe that it is necessary to do so to protect and defend the rights, property or personal safety of Eduvast, the App, or Users.
4. Cookies
  • (4.1.) Whenever You access the App We may place "cookies" on Your hard drive for record-keeping purposes to enhance Your experience or sometimes to personalize Your experience. Cookies are small text files that are placed on Your device's hard drive by the App You visit. Cookies help Us to identify information relating Your activities and to retain information relating to Your preferences and history on the App.
  • (4.2.) Ad targeting cookies: We and/or Our service providers may use advertising cookies to deliver ads that are more relevant to You and Your interests.
  • (4.3.) You may choose to disable cookies by turning off cookie feature on the web browser. However, by disabling this feature, some parts of the App may not function properly. This may prevent You from taking full advantage of the App.
5. Confidentiality
    • (5.1.) Except as otherwise provided in this Privacy Policy, We will keep Your Personal Information private and will not share it with third parties, unless We believe in good faith that disclosure of Your Personal Information or any other information We collect about You is necessary for Permitted Use or to:
(5.1.1.) Comply with a court order or other legal process; (5.1.2.) Protect the rights, property or safety of Eduvast or another party; (5.1.3.) Enforce the Agreement, including EULA; or (5.1.4.) Respond to claims that any posting or other content violates the rights of third-parties. 6. Security
  • (6.1.) The security of Your Personal Information is important to Us. We follow generally accepted industry standards to protect the Personal Information submitted to Us, both during transmission and once We receive it.
  • (6.2.) Although We make best possible efforts to store Personal Information in a secure operating environment which is not open to the public, You should understand that there is no such thing as complete security, and We do not guarantee that there will be no unintended disclosures of Your Personal Information. If We become aware that Your Personal Information has been disclosed in a manner not in accordance with this Privacy Policy, We will use reasonable efforts to notify You of the nature and extent of such disclosure (to the extent We know that information) as soon as reasonably possible and as permitted by law.
7. Updates and Changes to Privacy Policy
  • We reserve the right, at any time, to add to, change, update, or modify this Privacy Policy so please review it frequently. In all cases, use of information We collect is subject to the Privacy Policy in effect at the time such information is collected. You hereby acknowledge and agree that it is Your responsibility to review this Privacy Policy periodically and become aware of the modifications. If You disagree to any of the changes to the Privacy Policy, You shall refrain from using or accessing the App. Your continued use of the App following the posting of the revised Policy shall indicate Your acceptance and acknowledgment of the changes and You will be bound by it.
8. Updates and Changes to Your Personal Information
  • You have a right to correct any errors in Your Personal Information available with Us. You may request Us in writing that We cease to use Your Personal Information.
9. Contact Us
  • You may write to us at [email protected] for any privacy concerns and requests relating to this EULA and Privacy Policy.
Save settings
Cookies settings