Characterising the interplay of dynamics and artefacts: a multifractal analysis of historical humpback whale recordings

Bioacoustics 2026

View at publisher
Authors: Nahuel Daniel Mendez, S. Jaroszewicz, Osei K. Tweneboah, Maria P. Beccar-Varela, M. C. Mariani
DOI: 10.1080/09524622.2026.2629322
Cited by: 5
References: 26

Abstract

While humpback whale songs are known for their complexity, a quantitative understanding of their temporal structure remains elusive. We apply Multifractal Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (MFDFA) to a large historical dataset of songs spanning four decades (1950s-1990s). Our analysis confirms the songs are robustly multifractal but reveals significant heterogeneity, with distinct signatures strongly correlated with the recording year. Notably, 1992 recordings exhibit a markedly different dynamic higher complexity (ω) and strong persistence (α0>1.0) in stark contrast to the anti-persistent nature (α0

Fields of Study & Subjects

Marine animal studies overview Underwater Acoustics Research Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior

Publication details

Journal / source
Bioacoustics
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Volume
35
Issue
2
Pages
220–239
Publication date
25 February 2026
Language
EN