Vocal Behaviour of the Eastern Indian Ocean Pygmy Blue Whale and Its Changes over Time and Between Aggregation Areas

Abstract

This thesis investigates the calling behaviour of the eastern Indian Ocean pygmy blue (EIOPB) using long term data collected from passive acoustic recorders in the Perth Canyon, Western Australia (31.917° S, 115.031° E) and Portland, Victoria South Eastern Australia (38.536° S, 141.242° E). The research contained within this thesis highlights and quantifies the variability in song production of the eastern Indian Ocean pygmy blue whale, highlighting the capacity for blue whales to exhibit behavioural plasticity and building upon the understanding of singing behaviour in baleen whales.