Parks Susan E, Ketten Darlene R, O'Malley Jennifer T, Arruda Julie
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA.
Anat Rec (Hoboken). 2007 Jun;290(6):734-44. doi: 10.1002/ar.20527.
Some knowledge of the hearing abilities of right whales is important for understanding their acoustic communication system and possible impacts of anthropogenic noise. Traditional behavioral or physiological techniques to test hearing are not feasible with right whales. Previous research on the hearing of marine mammals has shown that functional models are reliable estimators of hearing sensitivity in marine species. Fundamental to these models is a comprehensive analysis of inner ear anatomy. Morphometric analyses of 18 inner ears from 13 stranded North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) were used for development of a preliminary model of the frequency range of hearing. Computerized tomography was used to create two-dimensional (2D) and 3D images of the cochlea. Four ears were decalcified and sectioned for histologic measurements of the basilar membrane. Basilar membrane length averaged 55.7 mm (range, 50.5 mm-61.7 mm). The ganglion cell density/mm averaged 1,842 ganglion cells/mm. The thickness/width measurements of the basilar membrane from slides resulted in an estimated hearing range of 10 Hz-22 kHz based on established marine mammal models. Additional measurements from more specimens will be necessary to develop a more robust model of the right whale hearing range.
了解露脊鲸的听力能力对于理解它们的声学通信系统以及人为噪声可能产生的影响至关重要。传统的行为或生理测试听力的技术对露脊鲸不可行。先前对海洋哺乳动物听力的研究表明，功能模型是海洋物种听力敏感度的可靠估计方法。这些模型的基础是对内耳解剖结构的全面分析。对13头搁浅的北大西洋露脊鲸（Eubalaena glacialis）的18个内耳进行形态测量分析，以建立听力频率范围的初步模型。使用计算机断层扫描来创建耳蜗的二维（2D）和三维（3D）图像。对四只耳朵进行脱钙和切片，以进行基底膜的组织学测量。基底膜长度平均为55.7毫米（范围为50.5毫米至61.7毫米）。神经节细胞密度平均为每毫米1842个神经节细胞。根据已建立的海洋哺乳动物模型，从载玻片上对基底膜进行厚度/宽度测量得出的听力范围估计为10赫兹至22千赫兹。需要对更多标本进行额外测量，以建立更完善的露脊鲸听力范围模型。
