澳门六合彩历史记录

鈥榃hoop鈥 鈥 New Autonomous Method Precisely Detects Whale Vocalizations

North Atlantic Right Whale, Endangered Species, Whales, Vocalization, Passive Acoustics Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Animal Behavior, Conservation, Communication

The endangered North Atlantic Right Whale communicate with each other using an 鈥渦p-call,鈥 which is a short chirp or 鈥渨hoop鈥 that lasts about two seconds.


By gisele galoustian | 9/15/2021

The North Atlantic Right Whale (Right whale) is one of the most endangered whale species in the world with only about 368 remaining off the east coast of North America. A decreasing trend and low reproduction rates, combined with high levels of human activities 鈥 such as shipping and fisheries 鈥 underscore their precarious situation. Efficient tracking of their numbers, migration paths and habitat use is vital to lowering the number of preventable injuries and deaths and promoting their recovery.

One of the frequently used methods to monitor whales is called passive acoustics technology. Right whales vocalize a variety of low-frequency sounds such as moans, groans, pulses and even belches. One typical vocalization they use to communicate with each other is referred to as an 鈥渦p-call,鈥 which is a short chirp or 鈥渨hoop鈥 that lasts about two seconds. Up-calls are narrowband vocalizations with frequency swings in the range of 50 to 440 Hertz and appear to function as signals that bring whales together.

Although current passive acoustics technology is a reliable, safe and effective way to monitor these endangered leviathans, it hasn鈥檛 always performed well. In the increasingly noisy ocean, current methods can mistake other sounds for whale calls. This high 鈥渇alse positive鈥 rate hampers scientific research and hinders conservation efforts.

Researchers from 澳门六合彩历史记录鈥檚 Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute and the used artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning methods to develop a new and much more accurate method of detecting Right whale up-calls. The technology utilizes Multimodal Deep Learning (MMDL) algorithms to evaluate acoustic recordings and make decisions on the presence of up-calls.

The study鈥檚 findings, published in the , showed that the MMDL detector outperformed conventional machine learning methods and demonstrated the superiority of the MMDL algorithm in terms of the up-call detection rate, non-up-call detection rate, and false alarm rate. The autonomy of the MMDL detector has immediate application for effectively monitoring and protecting Right whales where accurate call detection of a low-density species is critical.聽

鈥淥ur deep learning algorithm is a significant advancement on conventional machine learning methods. The near zero false-positive, false-negative and false alarm rates indicate that this new MMDL detector could be a powerful tool in the detection and monitoring of the low density, endangered North Atlantic Right Whale, especially in environments with high acoustic-masking,鈥 said Laurent M. Ch茅rubin, Ph.D., senior author and a research professor at 澳门六合彩历史记录 Harbor Branch who worked with Ali K. Ibrahim, first author and a post-doctoral research associate at 澳门六合彩历史记录 Harbor Branch. 鈥淪ince the attributes of the MMDL system are not signal specific, we believe that it can be used as a classifier for all applications in which multiple classes are involved.鈥

Researchers verified the effectiveness of the MMDL model for Right whale up-call detection with Cornell University鈥檚 dataset. These recorded signals were converted to images and classified by the MMDL detector. The algorithm, composed of two types of neural networks, randomly selects its design parameters, requires little preprocessing and automates its architecture construction. Outputs from individual models are evaluated by a fusion classifier, which selects the most probable outcome.

To highlight the urgency for effective detection and monitoring technologies in endangered species, new research is indicating that whales and other marine species are being impacted by climate change, including shifts in migration patterns and habitat use. Recently, North Atlantic Right Whales have been observed in locations not previously known as important Right whale habitat. The new MMDL system offers a new tool to effectively monitor and assess the importance of these new behaviors in a changing ocean.

Study co-authors are , Ph.D., chair of the , 澳门六合彩历史记录 College of Engineering and Computer Science; , Ph.D., professor, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 澳门六合彩历史记录 College of Engineering and Computer Science; and Gregory O鈥機orry-Crowe, Ph.D., lead of the Wildlife Evolution and Behavior program (WEB) and a research professor at 澳门六合彩历史记录 Harbor Branch.

This research was supported in part by the National Science Foundation (MRI Grant No. 1828181), which provided the scientists with the necessary computing equipment. Staff support was provided by the Protect Florida Whales Specialty License Plate provided through the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Foundation.

Listen to the endangered North Atlantic Right Whale using an 鈥渦p-call鈥 to communicate, which is a short chirp or 鈥渨hoop鈥 that lasts about two seconds.

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