Investigating the role of compound calls in the vocal communication of Norwegian killer whales

Name of applicant

Olga Filatova

Title

Associate Professor

Institution

University of Southern Denmark

Amount

DKK 98,000

Year

2026

Type of grant

Field Trips / Research Stays < 100,000

Summary

Norwegian killer whales use mysterious “compound calls” made by combining calls that can also occur alone. This project will use underwater microphones, drones, and AI-assisted analysis to test whether these call combinations carry meaning, offering new insights into animal communication, the origins of language, and improved tools for monitoring and conserving marine life.

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