A model and experimental approach to the middle ear transfer function related to hearing in the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)

Abstract

At present, there are no direct measures of hearing for any baleen whale (Mysticeti). The most viable alternative to approaches to simulate the audiogram is through modeling outer, middle, and inner ear functions based on the anatomy and material properties of each component. This paper describes a finite element model of the middle ear for the humpback whale () to calculate the middle ear transfer function (METF) to determine acoustic energy transmission to the cochlea. The model was developed based on high resolution computed tomography imaging and direct anatomical measurements of the middle ear components for this mysticete species. Mechanical properties for the middle ear tissues were determined from experimental measurements and published values. The METF for the humpback whale predicted a better frequency range between approximately 15 Hz and 3 kHz or between 200 Hz and 9 kHz based on two potential stimulation locations. Experimental measures of the ossicular chain, tympanic membrane, and tympanic bone velocities showed frequency response characteristics consistent with the model. The predicted best sensitivity hearing ranges match well with known vocalizations of this species.

Behavioral responses to predatory sounds predict sensitivity of cetaceans to anthropogenic noise within a soundscape of fear

“…As this study focused on 1- to 4-kHz sonar signals, we might expect humpback whales to have the best hearing in the frequency band of the sonar ( 36 ) and hence be more sensitive to disturbance by those sounds. Instead, the most sensitive species to both stimuli in our study was the northern bottlenose whale.…”

Swim bladder resonance enhances hearing in crucian carp (Carassius auratus)

“…Recently, a new experimental setup was used to visualize the motion of the isolated otoliths in 4D, providing insights into the motion of auditory structures (Maiditsch et al, 2022). Besides, finite element modeling offers an alternative way to study the roles of the otoliths in fish hearing and has been widely used in odontocetes to investigate sound transmission and reception (Cranford and Krysl, 2015; Song et al, 2021; Tubelli et al, 2018), which may facilitate more studies on hearing mechanism in fish.…”

The use and impact of auditory stimulation in animals

“…Note that Chicken' hearing range was extended from infrasound (9.1 Hz) like Elephant and Humpback whale. Carp (Vetter et al, 2018); Bottlenose dolphin (Houser and Finneran, 2006); Humpback whale (Tubelli et al, 2018).…”

“…2). For example, the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) is able to distinguish sounds from 100 Hz to ultrasounds up to a frequency of 150,000 Hz (Houser and Finneran, 2006) while the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) and the elephant (Elephas maximus) are able to detect infrasound as low as 15 (Tubelli et al, 2018) and 17 Hz (Heffner and Heffner, 1980), respectively. This capacity to detect infrasound is not restricted to large mammals as it has been shown that chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) are also able to detect infrasound as low as 9 Hz (Hill et al, 2014).…”