Seismic ocean sensors reveal late-season behavior and distribution of male Northeast Pacific blue whales

Summary

This article presents a scientific study using ocean bottom seismometers (OBS) to record blue whale songs in the Northeast Pacific. It focuses on understanding the distribution, behavior, and acoustic patterns of late foraging season male blue whales. The research leverages seismic monitoring infrastructure originally deployed for earthquake detection to also capture biological acoustic data, revealing insights into whale movements, calling behavior, and habitat use during the late foraging period. The study contributes to conservation efforts for the endangered Northeast Pacific blue whale population by demonstrating how existing ocean observation networks can be repurposed for marine mammal monitoring.