140
Ward et al. 2012; Von Benda-Beckmann et al. 2013; Tran et al. 2014; Fais et al.
2016). They have being carried out using a variety of methods and from different
platforms. However, as the frequency of sperm whale clicks extends above the dominant range of the ship and water flow noise, it makes possible the use of towed passive acoustic system (Gillespie 1997; Barlow and Taylor 1998, 2005; Gannier et al.
2002; Hastie et al. 2003; Leaper et al. 2003; Lewis et al. 2007; Swift et al. 2009;
Whitehead 2009; Fais et al. 2016). Once conducted opportunistically, it provides, as
highlighted by Whitehead (2002), the coverage of large areas with relatively low cost
resulting, additionally, in a more accurate abundance estimate for this species.
In Brazil, a recent effort has been conducted using this system, in association
with a visual survey (Di Tullio et al. 2016), aiming to detect, localize and estimate
the sperm whales population size in the south and southeast continental shelf break
region through their acoustic signals. This study has being conducted as a partnership between the research groups of Federal Universities of Juiz de Fora and Rio
Grande, as well as with the Centre for Research into Ecological & Environmental
Modelling at the University of St. Andrews.
Acknowledgement We thank the crew of FURG’s R/V “Atlântico Sul” for helping in all onboard
activities. This study was funded by BG Group and Chevron Brasil Upstream Frade LTDA. We are
grateful with the support of the Auset Company developing, building and providing assistance of
the acoustical equipments. We also thanks Dr. Eduardo R. Secchi, Dr. Luciano Dalla Rosa, Dr.
Alexandre Zerbini and all field team members. Scholarships and grants were supported by CNPq
and CAPES.
References
Amaral KB, Alvares DJ, Heinzelmann L et al (2015) Ecological niche modeling of Stenella dolphins (Cetartiodactyla: Delphinidae) in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol
472:166–179
Amorin TOS, Castro FR, Moron JR et al. (submitted) Acoustic classification of eight delphinid
species in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean
Andriolo A, Reis SS, Amorim TOS et al (2013) Wide frequency range whistles of a Risso’s dolphin
(Grampus griseus) recorded in shelf waters of Southern Brazil. In: Anais XXIV International
Bioacoustics Congress, Pirenópolis, Brazil, 8–13 Sept 2013
Andriolo A, Reis SS, Amorim TOS et al (2015) Killer whale (Orcinus orca) whistles from the
western South Atlantic Ocean include high frequency signals. J Acoust Soc Am 138:1696–1701
Ansmann IC, Goold JC, Evans PGH et al (2007) Variation in the whistle characteristics of shortbeaked common dolphins, Delphinus delphis, at two locations around the British Isles. J Mar
Biol Assoc UK 87:19–26
Antunes R, Schulz T, Gero S et al (2011) Individually distinctive acoustic features in sperm whale
codas. Anim Behav 81:723–730
Au WWL, Hastings MC (2008) Principles of marine bioacoustics. Springer, New York
Azevedo AF, Oliveira AM, Dalla Rosa L, Lailson-Brito J (2007) Characteristics of whistles
from resident bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in southern Brazil. J Acoust Soc Am
121:2978–2983
Azevedo AF, Flach L, Bisi TL et al (2010) Whistles emitted by Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella
frontalis) in southeastern Brazil. J Acoust Soc Am 127:2646–2651
A. Andriolo et al.
Ward et al. 2012; Von Benda-Beckmann et al. 2013; Tran et al. 2014; Fais et al.
2016). They have being carried out using a variety of methods and from different
platforms. However, as the frequency of sperm whale clicks extends above the dominant range of the ship and water flow noise, it makes possible the use of towed passive acoustic system (Gillespie 1997; Barlow and Taylor 1998, 2005; Gannier et al.
2002; Hastie et al. 2003; Leaper et al. 2003; Lewis et al. 2007; Swift et al. 2009;
Whitehead 2009; Fais et al. 2016). Once conducted opportunistically, it provides, as
highlighted by Whitehead (2002), the coverage of large areas with relatively low cost
resulting, additionally, in a more accurate abundance estimate for this species.
In Brazil, a recent effort has been conducted using this system, in association
with a visual survey (Di Tullio et al. 2016), aiming to detect, localize and estimate
the sperm whales population size in the south and southeast continental shelf break
region through their acoustic signals. This study has being conducted as a partnership between the research groups of Federal Universities of Juiz de Fora and Rio
Grande, as well as with the Centre for Research into Ecological & Environmental
Modelling at the University of St. Andrews.
Acknowledgement We thank the crew of FURG’s R/V “Atlântico Sul” for helping in all onboard
activities. This study was funded by BG Group and Chevron Brasil Upstream Frade LTDA. We are
grateful with the support of the Auset Company developing, building and providing assistance of
the acoustical equipments. We also thanks Dr. Eduardo R. Secchi, Dr. Luciano Dalla Rosa, Dr.
Alexandre Zerbini and all field team members. Scholarships and grants were supported by CNPq
and CAPES.
References
Amaral KB, Alvares DJ, Heinzelmann L et al (2015) Ecological niche modeling of Stenella dolphins (Cetartiodactyla: Delphinidae) in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol
472:166–179
Amorin TOS, Castro FR, Moron JR et al. (submitted) Acoustic classification of eight delphinid
species in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean
Andriolo A, Reis SS, Amorim TOS et al (2013) Wide frequency range whistles of a Risso’s dolphin
(Grampus griseus) recorded in shelf waters of Southern Brazil. In: Anais XXIV International
Bioacoustics Congress, Pirenópolis, Brazil, 8–13 Sept 2013
Andriolo A, Reis SS, Amorim TOS et al (2015) Killer whale (Orcinus orca) whistles from the
western South Atlantic Ocean include high frequency signals. J Acoust Soc Am 138:1696–1701
Ansmann IC, Goold JC, Evans PGH et al (2007) Variation in the whistle characteristics of shortbeaked common dolphins, Delphinus delphis, at two locations around the British Isles. J Mar
Biol Assoc UK 87:19–26
Antunes R, Schulz T, Gero S et al (2011) Individually distinctive acoustic features in sperm whale
codas. Anim Behav 81:723–730
Au WWL, Hastings MC (2008) Principles of marine bioacoustics. Springer, New York
Azevedo AF, Oliveira AM, Dalla Rosa L, Lailson-Brito J (2007) Characteristics of whistles
from resident bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in southern Brazil. J Acoust Soc Am
121:2978–2983
Azevedo AF, Flach L, Bisi TL et al (2010) Whistles emitted by Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella
frontalis) in southeastern Brazil. J Acoust Soc Am 127:2646–2651
A. Andriolo et al.