Researchers from Odense, Rochester and Vienna have solved a mystery about whale song. humpback whales and other baleen whales have developed a special “larynx’ that allows them to communicate underwater.
The study also provides an explanation for why the noise we make in the ocean is so disruptive to ocean giants. The song of the whales is limited to a narrow frequency that overlaps with the noise of the ships. “Sound is absolutely crucial for the survival of whales,” said study leader Prof. Coen Elemans.