FAU Harbor Branch Research Reveals Dolphins' Distinct Acoustic Behaviors for Hunting and Socializing
New research led by Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute has uncovered that dolphins off Florida’s Atlantic coast utilize sound differently based on their activity. The study, which involved 'eavesdropping' on dolphins for two months using an autonomous wave glider equipped with an acoustic recorder, captured nearly 62 hours of underwater sound. Dolphins were detected in over 1,600 recordings. Researchers analyzed whistles and echolocation clicks in relation to environmental factors like depth, temperature, salinity, currents, and human noise. Whistling, primarily associated with social behavior, was most frequently observed in nearshore waters, with notable hotspots near St. Augustine and Ponce Inlet, and additional areas around Melbourne Beach. Conversely, echolocation clicks, used for hunting, were concentrated further offshore between Melbourne and Ponce Inlet, in regions abundant with sound-producing fish. Greg O’Corry-Crowe, a co-author and research professor at FAU Har... 
