Whales can adjust their hearing

[xchrom]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/18085158


See Kina the false killer whale hunting for fish using her echolocation "buzz"


For many whales and dolphins, the world is shaped by sound; they hunt and navigate by listening for echoes.

Navigating in this way requires super-sensitive hearing. And scientists have now found that, for some whales, this sense is adjustable.


Researchers in Hawaii measured the hearing of a female false killer whale, and found that she could fine-tune her most crucial sense.


Sensors attached to suction cups on Kina's body took measurements of her brain activity
The whale would "turn down" her hearing when she anticipated a loud noise.

[kristopher]

1. Kick and rec. Thanks.

In retrospect, it makes sense that this would be part of a sensory apparatus developed to the importance of vision to us.

Kudos to Dr Paul Nachtigal and his associates. True genius is seeing what is right before our eyes and being the first to actually notice it.

[FBaggins]

2. But will it be used as an excuse?

Hadn't there started to be increased concerns re: the impact of active sonar (and other subsea sonic emissions) on whales?

[kristopher]

3. Increased?

No, I don't think so. The concern is longstanding and legitimate.

But we just learn that the suffering we bring to ocean mammals might not be as bad as we thought. You seem to be saying that knowledge is a bad thing because it will what, cause us to put more ships in the water than we otherwise would? Use more sonar than we otherwise would?

I'll stick with being happy that cetaceans seem to have the ability to close their sonic eyes.

[Chef Eric]

4. I wish I could "turn it down" when listening to Republican politicians. nt

[MannyGoldstein]

5. Our eyes do that with light

That's the function of our pupils, I believe.

[kristopher]

6. And eyelids. nt