New research shows that Humpback whales are connected to each other through a song.
Researchers have heard the same hits from the east coast of Australia to the French Polynesia to the breeding grounds of the Humpback whales.
Humpback whales are known for their complex vocalizations during breeding season, and each population has a slightly different chorus of vocalizations.
Each whale song has a number of repeating phrases.
Every once in a while, a breeding population undergoes a song revolution, where all the themes the males sing are replaced by new ones.
Studies have shown that subtle amendments can turn into smash hits.
Humpback populations on the west coast of Australia shared themes with populations on the east coast.
The population near French Polynesia were caught singing the same song themes that began on the east coast of Australia.
The songs can spread further. There are whale songs in French Polynesia that can be heard in South America.
The team was able to map a gradual song revolution that was first heard in French Polynesia and then off South America just a few years later.
The potential for a circumpolar Southern Hemisphere cultural transmission of song and a vocal culture is supported by the study.
It's not clear if the whale songs can migrate across the Indian Ocean to return to Australia.
Preliminary results off the coast of Brazil and South Africa show that a complete circumnavigation of the planet is possible.
By the time a whale song is heard again, it is likely to have evolved beyond recognition. It is possible that whales are laying down a whole new track.
The authors write that the study of humpback whale song culture sheds light on the underlying mechanisms of social learning and cultural evolution in animals ranging from fish to other cetacean species through to humans.
Experts don't know how these songs are being shared between whales, but they have a leading hypothesis.
We don't know where the Humpback whales in French Polynesia spend their summer months, but it's possible that they are sharing songs while bulking up or moving through the Pacific.
During their winter breeding season, male whales sing. Evidence shows they practice during the summer. These tunes may grab someone's attention.
The researchers think whale songs can travel around the world in a way that is stepwise. In the first case, a song revolution begins in one population, and in the second case, a population migrates to the other side of the country. So on and so forth.
The researchers think that the eastward trend is due to the differences in population size.
It would be interesting to see if songs from Australia's large western population also move in the other direction.
Evidence shows that whale songs can migrate within and between populations.
Scientists are now listening around the world.
We don't know how far the songs can travel.
The study was published in an open science journal.
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