High-frequency Hearing In Phocid And Otariid Pinnipeds: An Interpretation Based On Inertial And Cochlear Constraints (l)

High-frequency Hearing In Phocid And Otariid Pinnipeds: An Interpretation Based On Inertial And Cochlear Constraints (l)

Hemila S; Nummela S; Berta A; Reuter T

Journal of the Acoustical Society of America

2006

2006-12

Audiograms in air and underwater, determined by previous workers for four pinniped species, two eared seals '(Otariidae) and two phocids (Phocidae), are supplemented here by measurements on their middle ear ossicular mass, enabling mechanistic interpretations of high-frequency hearing and audiogram differences. Otariid hearing is not largely affected by the medium (air/water). This indicates that cochlear constraints limit high-frequency hearing in otariids. Phocids, however, have massive middle ear ossicles, and underwater hearing has radically shifted towards higher frequencies. This suggests that the high-frequency hearing of phocids in air is constrained by ossicle inertia. (c) 2006 Acoustical Society of America.

Acoustics; air; Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology; harp seal; middle-ear; pagophilus-groenlandicus erxleben; sensitivity; underwater audiogram

Journal Article or Conference Abstract Publication

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3463-3466

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