Bioacoustic studies of amphibious mammals at the Cognition and Sensory Systems Laboratory

The Cognition and Sensory Systems Laboratory at the University of California Santa Cruz is a unique facility dedicated to exploring the acoustic biology of amphibious marine mammals. For over 40 years, our laboratory has combined psychoacoustic and bioacoustic approaches to study marine mammal sound reception and production. Through collaboration with colleagues and facilities around the world, we have used behavioral methods to evaluate hearing and masking profiles for seals, sea lions, walruses, and sea otters. We also work to understand vocal behavior in the lab and field by classifying the acoustic repertoires of pinnipeds, describing temporal patterns of call production, and documenting the behavioral contexts in which calls are produced. Our work demonstrates how these acoustically reliant species are able to overcome the conflicting sensory demands that are inherent to their amphibious lifestyles. Furthermore, much of our research informs predictions of how noise influences hearing and communication in free-ranging animals and supports efforts to mitigate potentially harmful effects of anthropogenic noise in the marine environment. In tandem with its research objectives, this program plays a crucial role in fostering the careers of young scientists who are involved in every aspect of our work.