Aquatic mammals display a reaction to flute melodies, suggesting that incorporating live music may enhance marine communication.

In an exciting new area of study, researchers at the Australian National University (ANU) have embarked on a pilot experiment to investigate the effects of music on dolphins. The experiment, which took place in December 2021 on Port Stephens, New South Wales, Australia, was led by flautist Sally Walker from the ANU School of Music and Dr. Olivia De Bergerac, a renowned dolphin expert and author of The Dolphin Within: Awakening Human Potential.

According to Dr. De Bergerac, dolphins live in a world of sounds. The researchers found that high frequencies and particular intervallic distances between notes seemed to draw the dolphins in and excite them. The team observed one dolphin swimming directly underneath Walker at the same speed as the boat, with the rest of the pod dancing around it.

The question of whether dolphins have a preference for certain types of music remains unanswered. Sally Walker suggests that the dolphins may respond differently to structured music like a Bach sonata or more soothing sounds similar to those found in meditation soundtracks. A video of two dolphins enjoying some Klezmer clarinet, played by Walker herself, is available for viewing.

The sounds of the dolphins' reactions to the music were recorded using a hydrophone. The recording can be heard here, providing a unique insight into the world of these intelligent marine mammals.

Professor Kim Cunio, Head of the ANU School of Music, explained that high instruments like the flute, piccolo, and a coloratura voice are important because they are above human speech frequencies. The team also found that dolphins were attracted to high-pitched frequencies of several musical instruments, including the flute, piccolo, Indian wooden recorder, and a high-pitched singing voice.

The next step for the ANU researchers is to determine what sounds dolphins are most receptive to, and if this changes depending on whether the music comes from performers outside the water or if it is played underwater. This research could pave the way for new methods of communication between humans and aquatic mammals such as dolphins.

In a separate study, a project team at the Deutsches Meeresmuseum in Germany, led by Prof. Judith Denkinger, will conduct research on the effect of music on harbor porpoises (Tausendhundertierdelfine). Prof. Denkinger is responsible for the study on acoustic behavior of these marine mammals and their interaction with acoustic warning systems.

The possibility of using music to communicate with aquatic mammals is a fascinating new frontier in marine research. As more studies are conducted, we may uncover a deeper understanding of these intelligent creatures and potentially find new ways to interact with them. For now, the question of whether bottlenose dolphins like Bach remains unanswered, but the journey of discovery continues.

Aquatic mammals display a reaction to flute melodies, suggesting that incorporating live music may enhance marine communication.