Humpback whales can generate intricate bubbly regions, called bubble nets, via blowholes. Humpback whales appear to exploit these bubble nets for feeding via loud vocalizations. A fully-coupled phase-averaging approach is used to model the flow, bubble dynamics, and corresponding acoustics. A previously hypothesized waveguiding mechanism is assessed for varying acoustic frequencies and net void fractions. Reflections within the bubbly region result in observable waveguiding for only a small range of flow parameters. A configuration of multiple whales surrounding and vocalizing towards an annular bubble net is also analyzed. For a range of flow parameters, the bubble net keeps its core region substantially quieter than the exterior. This approach appears more viable, though it relies upon the cooperation of multiple whales. A spiral bubble net configuration that circumvents this requirement is also investigated. The acoustic wave behaviors in the spiral interior vary qualitatively with the vocalization frequency and net void fraction. The competing effects of vocalization guiding and acoustic attenuation are quantified. Low void fraction cases allow low-frequency waves to partially escape the spiral region, with the remaining vocalizations still exciting the net interior. Higher void fraction nets appear preferable, guiding even low-frequency vocalizations while still maintaining a quiet net interior.
Skip Nav Destination
,
Article navigation
February 2020
February 14 2020
Simulation of humpback whale bubble-net feeding models Available to Purchase
Spencer H. Bryngelson;
Spencer H. Bryngelson
a)
Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology
, 1200 East California Boulevard, Pasadena, California 91125, USA
Search for other works by this author on:
Tim Colonius
Tim Colonius
b)
Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology
, 1200 East California Boulevard, Pasadena, California 91125, USA
Search for other works by this author on:
Spencer H. Bryngelson
a)
Tim Colonius
b)
Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology
, 1200 East California Boulevard, Pasadena, California 91125, USA
a)
Electronic mail: [email protected], ORCID: 0000-0003-1750-7265.
b)
ORCID: 0000-0003-0326-3909.
J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 147, 1126–1135 (2020)
Article history
Received:
September 27 2019
Accepted:
January 30 2020
Citation
Spencer H. Bryngelson, Tim Colonius; Simulation of humpback whale bubble-net feeding models. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 1 February 2020; 147 (2): 1126–1135. https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0000746
Download citation file:
Pay-Per-View Access
$40.00
Sign In
You could not be signed in. Please check your credentials and make sure you have an active account and try again.
Citing articles via
Focality of sound source placement by higher (ninth) order ambisonics and perceptual effects of spectral reproduction errors
Nima Zargarnezhad, Bruno Mesquita, et al.
A survey of sound source localization with deep learning methods
Pierre-Amaury Grumiaux, Srđan Kitić, et al.
Variation in global and intonational pitch settings among black and white speakers of Southern American English
Aini Li, Ruaridh Purse, et al.
Related Content
Annular and spiral bubble nets: A simulation-focused analysis of humpback whale feeding strategies
J. Acoust. Soc. Am. (October 2019)
Cryptic vocal behavior of foraging humpback whales on feeding grounds in West Greenland
J. Acoust. Soc. Am. (October 2021)
Sounds, source levels, and associated behavior of humpback whales, Southeast Alaska
J. Acoust. Soc. Am. (September 1986)
Common humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) sound types for passive acoustic monitoring
J. Acoust. Soc. Am. (February 2011)
Source levels of foraging humpback whale calls
J. Acoust. Soc. Am. (February 2018)