The way animals communicate through sounds, especially mammals in the wild, is complex and often mysterious. Studying and deciphering the calls of animals and how they travel through space and time requires patience and dedicated research. These animal vocalizations provide insights into animal behaviors, but understanding them is not always straightforward.
Manatees, in particular, have been considered as creatures of few words. Initially believed to communicate mainly in parent-offspring interactions, manatee communication was thought to be limited. When compared to what we know about other marine animals’ communications, the chatter among manatees seemed insignificant. However, recent research has shed new light on manatees’ vocalizations, revealing they may be more vocal than previously believed.
The Cetalingua project
While manatee communication may not be as extensive as other aquatic animals, understanding the purpose, range, and individual variations in their calls is crucial.
To enhance our understanding of these animal vocalizations, known as manatee chat, a citizen science project was initiated and featured on Zooniverse.
Goals of the project
This citizen science project aims to uncover various aspects of manatee vocalizations, including exploring the relationships between different parent-offspring interactions. By delving deeper into the communication habits of manatees, we may discover more about these creatures and their nurturing behaviors.
Zooniverse features a video showcasing the high-pitched manatee chat sounds, raising questions about whether it is a solo manatee call or an interaction between multiple individuals.
The project offers a library of sounds for the citizen science project, where participants analyze and interpret different sounds.
The project consists of two phases. The first phase involves classifying various manatee calls and eating noises using spectrograms, which visually represent sound frequencies. The second phase focuses on distinguishing specific animals based on their distinct calls.
Project discoveries
One common observation from the citizen science project is that many participants liken the high-pitched manatee chat sounds to bird calls. These shrill animal vocalizations, unexpected from these large creatures, remain a mystery.
The collected sounds from the Manatee Rehabilitation Center in Tampa Zoo reveal that higher-frequency sounds do not travel far distances. If manatees’ calls were lower-pitched, they could communicate across larger areas. The 1200 citizen scientists involved in the project have identified some intriguing calls and unidentified sounds, including video clips showing group manatee calls that are yet to be deciphered.
Manatee conservation efforts
The ongoing Cetalingua project welcomes future researchers to delve into why manatees, with their exceptional hearing abilities, are often injured by boat collisions. The project also explores navigation science, individuals’ capacity to recognize fellow manatees over time, and the acknowledgment of alarm calls.
Despite manatees in Florida facing threats from boat collisions, conservation efforts are underway persistently. Through compassionate scientific endeavors like the Cetalingua project, we can unravel the mysteries of these enchanting beings, decode their animal vocalizations, and protect them from dire consequences!
Image Source: Jeff Stamer / Shutterstock