Humans are not the only ones who 'suffer' the song of the summer. Now a team of researchers has discovered that humpback whales also have theirs , according to a study by the University of Queensland in Australia.
The study, published in the journal Current Biology, suggests that males of this cetacean species (Megaptera novaeanglie) sing the same song during mating seasons.
But the melodies and tones are changing with the seasons. In addition, new versions and more 'sticky' to repeatedly extend by the ocean, usually in the same direction, from west to east.
Except on one occasion, the songs began in a town on the east coast came to Australia and French Polynesia, about 4,000 km away, and even the Atlantic Ocean, as the researchers reported in their recordings. The
Songs, collected in Wired magazine , males spent a few others thanks to the 'word of mouth'. Traveling between towns and were shared while performing their migratory journeys .
explains Ellen Garland, head of the study, "the songs move like cultural waves from one population to another, causing all males changed their song to the new version, which means" a great cultural change scale. "
is also the first time documents a cultural exchange between populations large scale in any species other than humans, the researcher adds.
Despite the relevance of research, the author of the paper points out that is not known why the songs are extended in this way . Scientists do not know why whales sing, but probably serves to attract females or to warn rival males.
"We believe that this search male hides the new song hope to be a little different and perhaps more attractive to the opposite sex. This is countered by the urge to sing the same tune, by the need to adapt," concludes Garland.
Via: RTVE
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