<!-- /* Font Definitions */@font-face {font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-font-charset:78; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1791491579 18 0 131231 0;}@font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}@font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073743103 0 0 415 0;} /* Style Definitions */p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}span.yiv2340009259 {mso-style-name:yiv2340009259; mso-style-unhide:no;}.MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}@page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;}div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;}--My co-authors and I would like to providesome information on our recent paper on the detection of complex sounds byseals and sea lions.  The goal of thisstudy was to test how auditory data predict detection of complex sounds inquiet and noisy conditions.  Our resultsindicate that pinnipeds may utilize certain common features of natural soundsto enhance detectability.  We believethat this study is relevant given current efforts to predict the effects ofanthropogenic noise on marine mammal species.  Please let me know if youhave any comments or questions. Thank You,Kane Cunningham -- “Auditory sensitivity of seals and sealions in complex listening scenarios.” Cunningham, K. A., Southall, B. L.,& Reichmuth, C. Abstract Standardaudiometric data, such as audiograms and critical ratios, are often used toinform marine mammal noise-exposure criteria. However, these measurements areobtained using simple, artificial stimuli—i.e., pure tones and flat-spectrumnoise—while natural sounds typically have more complex structure. In thisstudy, detection thresholds for complex signals were measured in (I) quiet and(II) masked conditions for one California sea lion (Zalophus californianus )and one harbor seal (Phoca vitulina ). In Experiment I, detection thresholds inquiet conditions were obtained for complex signals designed to isolate threecommon features of natural sounds: Frequency modulation, amplitude modulation,and harmonic structure. In Experiment II, detection thresholds were obtainedfor the same complex signals embedded in two types of masking noise: Syntheticflat-spectrum noise and recorded shipping noise. To evaluate how accuratelystandard hearing data predict detection of complex sounds, the results of ExperimentsI and II were compared to predictions based on subject audiograms and criticalratios combined with a basic hearing model. Both subjects exhibited greater-than-predicted sensitivity to harmonicsignals in quiet and masked conditions, as well as to frequency-modulatedsignals in masked conditions. These differences indicate that the complexfeatures of naturally occurring sounds enhance detectability relative to simplestimuli. The Journal of the Acoustical Societyof America, 136(6), 3410-3421 (2014). -- Kane Cunningham Pinniped Cognition and Sensory Systems Laboratory e: kaacunni@ucsc.edu