Communication masking in marine mammals: A review and research strategy

Underwater noise, whether of natural or anthropogenic origin, has the ability to interfere with the way in which marine mammals receive acoustic signals (i.e., for communication, social interaction, foraging, navigation, etc.). This phenomenon, termed auditory masking, has been well studied in human...

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Main Authors: Erbe, Christine, Reichmuth, C., Cunningham, K., Lucke, Klaus, Dooling, R.
Format: Journal Article
Published: 2015
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/33503
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author Erbe, Christine
Reichmuth, C.
Cunningham, K.
Lucke, Klaus
Dooling, R.
author_facet Erbe, Christine
Reichmuth, C.
Cunningham, K.
Lucke, Klaus
Dooling, R.
author_sort Erbe, Christine
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Underwater noise, whether of natural or anthropogenic origin, has the ability to interfere with the way in which marine mammals receive acoustic signals (i.e., for communication, social interaction, foraging, navigation, etc.). This phenomenon, termed auditory masking, has been well studied in humans and terrestrial vertebrates (in particular birds), but less so in marine mammals. Anthropogenic underwater noise seems to be increasing in parts of the world's oceans and concerns about associated bioacoustic effects, including masking, are growing. In this article, we review our understanding of masking in marine mammals, summarise data on marine mammal hearing as they relate to masking (including audiograms, critical ratios, critical bandwidths, and auditory integration times), discuss masking release processes of receivers (including comodulation masking release and spatial release from masking) and anti-masking strategies of signalers (e.g. Lombard effect), and set a research framework for improved assessment of potential masking in marine mammals.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-335032017-09-13T15:31:15Z Communication masking in marine mammals: A review and research strategy Erbe, Christine Reichmuth, C. Cunningham, K. Lucke, Klaus Dooling, R. Underwater noise, whether of natural or anthropogenic origin, has the ability to interfere with the way in which marine mammals receive acoustic signals (i.e., for communication, social interaction, foraging, navigation, etc.). This phenomenon, termed auditory masking, has been well studied in humans and terrestrial vertebrates (in particular birds), but less so in marine mammals. Anthropogenic underwater noise seems to be increasing in parts of the world's oceans and concerns about associated bioacoustic effects, including masking, are growing. In this article, we review our understanding of masking in marine mammals, summarise data on marine mammal hearing as they relate to masking (including audiograms, critical ratios, critical bandwidths, and auditory integration times), discuss masking release processes of receivers (including comodulation masking release and spatial release from masking) and anti-masking strategies of signalers (e.g. Lombard effect), and set a research framework for improved assessment of potential masking in marine mammals. 2015 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/33503 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.12.007 fulltext
spellingShingle Erbe, Christine
Reichmuth, C.
Cunningham, K.
Lucke, Klaus
Dooling, R.
Communication masking in marine mammals: A review and research strategy
title Communication masking in marine mammals: A review and research strategy
title_full Communication masking in marine mammals: A review and research strategy
title_fullStr Communication masking in marine mammals: A review and research strategy
title_full_unstemmed Communication masking in marine mammals: A review and research strategy
title_short Communication masking in marine mammals: A review and research strategy
title_sort communication masking in marine mammals: a review and research strategy
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/33503