Analysis of Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddelli) vocalizations using underwater playbacks

The Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddelli) in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, has a large repertoire of underwater vocalizations (12 calls with 34 types) ranging from short pulses to long frequency-modulated sweeps. Individual vocalizations were projected under water to seals at breeding colonies to investigate their functions. Responses were affected by the time of day, length of experiment, and composition of the colony. Specific vocalizations were given in response to particular playbacks. The duration of responses changed for different types of playbacks, but the number of elements per series did not. Only functions for vocalizations associated with breeding were assigned.