Dear MARMAN subscribers,

We are pleased to announce the publication of the following paper in the Journal of Comparative Physiology A:

Lucke K, · Hastie GD, · Ternes K, · McConnell B, Moss S, Russell DJF, Weber H, Janik VM (2016).

Aerial low‑frequency hearing in captive and free‑ranging harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) measured using auditory brainstem responses.

Journal of  Comparative Physiology A, DOI 10.1007/s00359-016-1126-8

Abstract

The hearing sensitivity of 18 free-ranging and 10

captive harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) to aerial sounds was

measured in the presence of typical environmental noise

through auditory brainstem response measurements. A

focus was put on the comparative hearing sensitivity at low

frequencies. Low- and mid-frequency thresholds appeared

to be elevated in both captive and free-ranging seals, but

this is likely due to masking effects and limitations of the

methodology used. The data also showed individual variability

in hearing sensitivity with probable age-related

hearing loss found in two old harbour seals. These results

suggest that the acoustic sensitivity of free-ranging animals

was not negatively affected by the soundscape they experienced

in the wild.

The paper is available via open access and can be downloaded from the following link:

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00359-016-1126-8

Happy reading!

Klaus Lucke
PhD, Marine Bioacoustics
Research Fellow | Centre for Marine Science & Technology

Curtin University

Perth, Australia
Tel | +61 8 9266 4503
Mobile | +61 432 777197

Email | klaus.lucke@curtin.edu.au
Web | http://curtin.edu.au