Abstract
Over the last decade, the opportunistic use of broadband Ocean Bottom
Seismometer (OBS) recordings has been extremely beneficial for baleen
whales studies as they regularly record their stereotyped calls
([10-40] Hz). Often deployed in remote areas, OBSs offer additional
and often unprecedented locations for acoustic data collection. The
long-term, widespread networks are then ideal for passive acoustic
monitoring. Therefore OBS-recorded data are crucial to conservation
purposes from monitoring their post-exploitation recovery to improving
our understanding of these endangered species and threats. As an example
of the potential of OBSs for baleen whale studies, this work exploits
data collected by the RHUM-RUM (Réunion Hotspot and Upper Mantle -
Réunions Unterer Mantel) seismic network. It aimed initially at imaging
the mantle structure beneath the Western Indian Ocean and the dynamics
of La Réunion volcanic hotspot. To that extent, 57 OBSs were deployed on
the ocean floor, covering an area of 2000x2000 km2 (Lat. 16-34°S, Long.
048-070°E), from October 2012 to November 2013. The RHUM-RUM data
provides the second opportunity to record species-specific or
regionally-distinct signals of Blue Whales (BWs; Antarctic and
Madagascar Pygmy BW) within the Western Indian Ocean Sanctuary. BW calls
can propagate from tens to hundreds of kilometers. Consequently, results
show that recordings from a single OBS are sufficient to determine the
acoustic presence of a species and estimate the range of a calling
individual. However, the data analysis benefits from the use of
automatic and reliable detection processes. Additional information
arises from increasing the number of sensors: a small array of the
RHUM-RUM network (20km inter-sensor distance) is used for localization
and tracking, essential for animal counting. Besides, the broader
configuration showed repartition and migration patterns of the studied
species. These recordings from the bottom of the ocean shed new light on
the study of BWs and, more generally, low-frequency sounds in this area.