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Behavioral assessment of in-air hearing range for the Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens)

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Abstract

The conservation status of wild walruses (Odobenus rosmarus) is influenced by rapid warming of the Arctic, loss of seasonal sea ice, and increasing pressures related to anthropogenic activities and associated noise. Few data are available regarding acoustic sensitivity in walruses, although the species is known to be vulnerable to human disturbance. Here, we provide new information to describe the range of sound frequencies that are audible to walruses. These data were obtained through partnership with the Walrus Conservation Consortium and two zoological facilities. Two adult female walruses were trained to cooperate in an auditory detection task by responding to relatively high-amplitude airborne tones of approximately 80 dB re 20 μPa. Once performance was reliable, behavioral responses were generalized to a range of frequencies spanning more than six octaves. The upper- and lower-frequency limits of hearing were determined during audiometric testing with fully calibrated sounds. Results confirmed an audible range of hearing extending from 60 Hz to 23 kHz in air. Hearing range in water is expected to be similar or broader at high frequencies. This study provides evidence that hearing in walruses is different from that of other marine carnivores, including seals, sea lions, and sea otters, and better than suggested by early reports for the species.

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Acknowledgements

This research was planned and conducted with cooperation from the Walrus Conservation Consortium. The project was funded by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, with in-kind support from Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. RW was supported by a Pew Fellowship in Marine Conservation. Research training at Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium was conducted by LT with support from Amanda Shaffer, Emily Sandberg, Cindy Roberts, Mandy Betz, Caryn Carter, Amanda Davis, and Sheriden Ploof. Dr. Karen Wolf and Karen Goodrowe facilitated research access at PDZA. Research training at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom was conducted by RF with support from Jennifer Martinez, Kyle Hetzel, Briana Giorgione, Jessica McCord, Randi Levine, Erin Kuiper, Ashley Griffin-Stence, Taylor Rymal, Alyx Sidell, Meg Russotto, and Breanna Cheri. Dr. Vanessa Fravel, Dianne Cameron, and Eric Calvo facilitated research access at SFDK. Additional project support was provided by Ross Nichols at the University of California Santa Cruz, Jason Mulsow at the National Marine Mammal Foundation, and Natalie Mastick and Lauren Yruretagoyena at Oceans Initiative. We thank Dr. John Terhune for helpful comments that improved this manuscript. Finally, we thank Billy Hughes for his early contributions to the development of this project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Long Marine Laboratory, Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA

    Colleen Reichmuth, Jillian M. Sills & Arial Brewer

  2. Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and Oceans, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    Arial Brewer

  3. Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, Tacoma, WA, USA

    Lisa Triggs

  4. Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, Vallejo, CA, USA

    Rebecca Ferguson

  5. Oceans Initiative, Seattle, WA, USA

    Erin Ashe & Rob Williams

Authors
  1. Colleen Reichmuth
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  2. Jillian M. Sills
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  3. Arial Brewer
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  4. Lisa Triggs
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  5. Rebecca Ferguson
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  6. Erin Ashe
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  7. Rob Williams
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Colleen Reichmuth.

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The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Ethical approval

All applicable international, national, and institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed. Animal research was conducted in accordance with the ethical standards of the Animal Welfare Committees at Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. Research activities were further reviewed and approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee at the University of California Santa Cruz. Federal Authorization for research with walruses was granted under public display authorizations by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

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Supplementary file1 (MOV 6733 kb)

Online Resource 1 Video exemplar of auditory testing with Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) Uquq at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. The video clip illustrates a testing session to evaluate the upper-frequency limit of hearing. On signal-present trials, the presentation of a tone is indicated by red text on the screen. Note that the trainer steps out of view of the test subject during every trial, only stepping back into view to deliver reinforcement after correct trials or to reset the animal after incorrect trials

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Reichmuth, C., Sills, J.M., Brewer, A. et al. Behavioral assessment of in-air hearing range for the Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens). Polar Biol 43, 767–772 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-020-02667-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-020-02667-6

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