marine mammal hearing

The auditory anatomy of the Minke Whale (<em>Balaenoptera acutorostrata</em>): Insights into potential sound reception pathways in a baleen whale

ShareThis[1431] Yamato, M., D. R. Ketten, J. J. Arruda, S. R. Cramer, and K. Moore, "The auditory anatomy of the Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata): Insights into potential sound reception pathways in a baleen whale", 19th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, vol. Abstracts, Tampa, FL, Society for Marine Mammology, pp. 319, 11/2011. Get PDF:  Abstract.pdf (format PDF / 162 KB) Ken Norris first described a potential mandibular sound reception pathway in odontocetes in 1964. To date, sound reception paths in mysticetes remain unknown. To understand hearing mechanisms in baleen whales, a thorough examination of their auditory anatomy is required. This study combines classical dissection with biomed1cal imaging techniques such as X-ray, computerized tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRl) to describe the anatomy of the minke whale head with a focus on the ear region. Six individuals have been examined to date.

Supreme court wrestles with whales vs. sonar

ShareThis[1330] Madin, K., "Supreme court wrestles with whales vs. sonar", Oceanus, vol. 47, issue 2, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, pp. 42-43, 09/2009. Get PDF:  Full Text.pdf (format PDF / 2 MB)

Arguments about the impact of Navy sonar on marine mammals rose to the highest court in the land last fall. But not every issue is best settled in court. One source of knowledge related to the case—marine mammal scientists—was essentially left out of the debate.

The U.S. Supreme Court weighed competing interests—“a balance of harms” in legal terms. On one hand is the potential threat to whales from sonar; on the other, the military risk posed by naval forces inadequately trained to use sonar to detect enemy submarines.

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