Direct hearing measurements in a baleen whale suggest ultrasonic sensitivity
Predicting and mitigating the impacts of anthropogenic ocean noise on marine animals is hindered by a lack of information on hearing in these species. We established a catch-and-release program to temporarily hold adolescent minke whales (<i>Balaenoptera acutorostrata</i>) for hearing tests during their summer migration. In 2023, two minke whales provided measures of the auditory brainstem response and data on the frequency range of their hearing. Results show that minke whales are sensitive to sound frequencies as high as 45 to 90 kilohertz. These tests provide information on the types of anthropogenic noise that could affect minke whales and potentially, other related baleen whale species.
Authors
- Jason Mulsow (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8090-4733)
- Petter H. Kvadsheim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-0094-948X)
- Craig A. Harms (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1262-9274)
- James J. Finneran (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0969-8033)
- Jonas Teilmann (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4376-4700)
- Lars Kleivane (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2550-1405)
- Dorian S. Houser (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0960-8528)
- Rolf Arne Ølberg
Institutions
- Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific (US)
- Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (NO)
- Aarhus University (DK)
- Carteret Community College (US)
- National Marine Mammal Foundation (US)
- Ansgar University College (NO)
- Morehead State University (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Science
- Published
- 2024-11-21
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1126/science.ado7580
- Citations
- 10
- Primary Topic
- Marine animal studies overview
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 4.59