Dear All, We are pleased to announce our new publication: Helen M. Hiley, Sarah Perry, Steve Hartley & Stephanie L. King (2016): What's occurring? Ultrasonic signature whistle use in Welsh bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), Bioacoustics DOI: 10.1080/09524622.2016.1174885 <http://www.tandfonline.com/action/showCitFormats?doi=10.1080/09524622.2016. 1174885> ABSTRACT Animal communication signals are diverse. The types of sounds that animals produce, and the way that information is encoded in those sounds, not only varies between species but can also vary geographically within a species. Therefore, an understanding of the vocal repertoire at the population level is important for providing insight into regional differences in vocal communication signals. One species whose vocal repertoire has received considerable attention is the bottlenose dolphin. This species is well known for its use of individually distinctive identity signals, known as signature whistles. Bottlenose dolphins use their signature whistles to broadcast their identity and to maintain contact with social companions. Signature whistles are not innate, but are learnt signals that develop within the first few months of an animal's life. It is therefore unsurprising that studies, which have characterized signature whistles in wild populations of bottlenose dolphins, have provided evidence of geographic variation in signature whistle structure. Here, we describe the occurrence of signature whistles in a previously unexplored wild population of bottlenose dolphins in Cardigan Bay, Wales. We present the first occurrence of a signature whistle with an ultrasonic fundamental frequency component (>30 kHz), a frequency band that was not thought to be utilized by this species for whistle communication. We also describe the occurrence of an ultrasonic non-signature whistle. Our findings highlight the importance of conducting regional studies in order to fully quantify a species' vocal repertoire, and call into question the efficacy of those studies that use restricted sampling rates. You can access the paper here: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09524622.2016.1174885 Or email either Helen Hiley (hmh332@gmail.com) or myself (sarah@cbmwc.org) for a copy. All the best, Sarah ------------------------- Sarah Perry Living Seas Science Officer ------------------------- The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales, C/O Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre ------------------------- Ffon/Phone: 01545 560224 E-bost/E-mail: s.perry@welshwildlife.org E-bost/E-mail: <mailto:sarah@cbmwc.org> sarah@cbmwc.org Website: <http://www.welshwildlife.org/> www.welshwildlife.org Website: <http://www.cbmwc.org/> www.cbmwc.org Support our research - adopt a Cardigan Bay dolphin with the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre Raise money for CBMWC with each internet search you do - it doesn't cost you a penny <http://sites.affilyon.co.uk/cbmwc> http://sites.affilyon.co.uk/cbmwc For all the latest news and sightings information, please visit our website, follow us on Twitter or become a fan of our Facebook page <http://twitter.com/CBMWC> http://twitter.com/CBMWC <http://facebook.com/CBMWC> http://facebook.com/CBMWC Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre is part of the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales. Helping to conserve Cardigan Bay's marine wildlife through education, interpretation and research Helpu i warchod bywyd gwyllt morol Bae Ceredigion drwy addysg ac ymchwil _____________________________________________ The contents of this email are confidential and are solely for the use of the intended recipient. If you receive this email in error please delete it and notify us either by email or telephone. It is prohibited to copy, forward or otherwise disclose the contents of this email.