Fin whale sound reception mechanisms: skull vibration enables low-frequency hearing.
Hearing mechanisms in baleen whales (Mysticeti) are essentially unknown but their vocalization frequencies overlap with anthropogenic sound sources. Synthetic audiograms were generated for a fin whale by applying finite element modeling tools to X-ray computed tomography (CT) scans. We CT scanned th...
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ftcdlib:oai:escholarship.org/ark:/13030/qt38s9q52k 2023-05-15T15:36:41+02:00 Fin whale sound reception mechanisms: skull vibration enables low-frequency hearing. Cranford, Ted W Krysl, Petr e0116222 2015-01-29 application/pdf https://escholarship.org/uc/item/38s9q52k unknown eScholarship, University of California qt38s9q52k https://escholarship.org/uc/item/38s9q52k public PloS one, vol 10, iss 1 Skull Animals Hearing Tests Vocalization Animal Hearing Sound Vibration Models Biological Fin Whale General Science & Technology article 2015 ftcdlib 2020-07-01T06:41:30Z Hearing mechanisms in baleen whales (Mysticeti) are essentially unknown but their vocalization frequencies overlap with anthropogenic sound sources. Synthetic audiograms were generated for a fin whale by applying finite element modeling tools to X-ray computed tomography (CT) scans. We CT scanned the head of a small fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) in a scanner designed for solid-fuel rocket motors. Our computer (finite element) modeling toolkit allowed us to visualize what occurs when sounds interact with the anatomic geometry of the whale's head. Simulations reveal two mechanisms that excite both bony ear complexes, (1) the skull-vibration enabled bone conduction mechanism and (2) a pressure mechanism transmitted through soft tissues. Bone conduction is the predominant mechanism. The mass density of the bony ear complexes and their firmly embedded attachments to the skull are universal across the Mysticeti, suggesting that sound reception mechanisms are similar in all baleen whales. Interactions between incident sound waves and the skull cause deformations that induce motion in each bony ear complex, resulting in best hearing sensitivity for low-frequency sounds. This predominant low-frequency sensitivity has significant implications for assessing mysticete exposure levels to anthropogenic sounds. The din of man-made ocean noise has increased steadily over the past half century. Our results provide valuable data for U.S. regulatory agencies and concerned large-scale industrial users of the ocean environment. This study transforms our understanding of baleen whale hearing and provides a means to predict auditory sensitivity across a broad spectrum of sound frequencies. Article in Journal/Newspaper Balaenoptera physalus baleen whale baleen whales Fin whale University of California: eScholarship |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of California: eScholarship |
op_collection_id |
ftcdlib |
language |
unknown |
topic |
Skull Animals Hearing Tests Vocalization Animal Hearing Sound Vibration Models Biological Fin Whale General Science & Technology |
spellingShingle |
Skull Animals Hearing Tests Vocalization Animal Hearing Sound Vibration Models Biological Fin Whale General Science & Technology Cranford, Ted W Krysl, Petr Fin whale sound reception mechanisms: skull vibration enables low-frequency hearing. |
topic_facet |
Skull Animals Hearing Tests Vocalization Animal Hearing Sound Vibration Models Biological Fin Whale General Science & Technology |
description |
Hearing mechanisms in baleen whales (Mysticeti) are essentially unknown but their vocalization frequencies overlap with anthropogenic sound sources. Synthetic audiograms were generated for a fin whale by applying finite element modeling tools to X-ray computed tomography (CT) scans. We CT scanned the head of a small fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) in a scanner designed for solid-fuel rocket motors. Our computer (finite element) modeling toolkit allowed us to visualize what occurs when sounds interact with the anatomic geometry of the whale's head. Simulations reveal two mechanisms that excite both bony ear complexes, (1) the skull-vibration enabled bone conduction mechanism and (2) a pressure mechanism transmitted through soft tissues. Bone conduction is the predominant mechanism. The mass density of the bony ear complexes and their firmly embedded attachments to the skull are universal across the Mysticeti, suggesting that sound reception mechanisms are similar in all baleen whales. Interactions between incident sound waves and the skull cause deformations that induce motion in each bony ear complex, resulting in best hearing sensitivity for low-frequency sounds. This predominant low-frequency sensitivity has significant implications for assessing mysticete exposure levels to anthropogenic sounds. The din of man-made ocean noise has increased steadily over the past half century. Our results provide valuable data for U.S. regulatory agencies and concerned large-scale industrial users of the ocean environment. This study transforms our understanding of baleen whale hearing and provides a means to predict auditory sensitivity across a broad spectrum of sound frequencies. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Cranford, Ted W Krysl, Petr |
author_facet |
Cranford, Ted W Krysl, Petr |
author_sort |
Cranford, Ted W |
title |
Fin whale sound reception mechanisms: skull vibration enables low-frequency hearing. |
title_short |
Fin whale sound reception mechanisms: skull vibration enables low-frequency hearing. |
title_full |
Fin whale sound reception mechanisms: skull vibration enables low-frequency hearing. |
title_fullStr |
Fin whale sound reception mechanisms: skull vibration enables low-frequency hearing. |
title_full_unstemmed |
Fin whale sound reception mechanisms: skull vibration enables low-frequency hearing. |
title_sort |
fin whale sound reception mechanisms: skull vibration enables low-frequency hearing. |
publisher |
eScholarship, University of California |
publishDate |
2015 |
url |
https://escholarship.org/uc/item/38s9q52k |
op_coverage |
e0116222 |
genre |
Balaenoptera physalus baleen whale baleen whales Fin whale |
genre_facet |
Balaenoptera physalus baleen whale baleen whales Fin whale |
op_source |
PloS one, vol 10, iss 1 |
op_relation |
qt38s9q52k https://escholarship.org/uc/item/38s9q52k |
op_rights |
public |
_version_ |
1766367043159851008 |