In-air and underwater hearing in the great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis)

Abstract

Hearing thresholds of a great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) were measured in air and under water using psychophysics. The lowest thresholds were at 2 kHz (45 dB re 20 mu Pa root-mean-square [rms] in air and 79 dB re 1 mu Pa rms in water). Auditory brainstem response measurements on one anesthetized bird in air indicated an audiogram with a shape that resembled the one achieved by psychophysics. This study suggests that cormorants have rather poor in-air hearing abilities compared with other similar-size birds. The hearing capabilities in water are better than what would have been expected for a purely in-air adapted ear.

Keywords

Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis; Underwater hearing; Psychophysical measurements; Auditory brainstem response; Playback

Published in

Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
2016, volume: 875, number: 875, pages: 505-512
Title: Effects of Noise on Aquatic Life II
Publisher: Springer

SLU Authors

• Lunneryd, Sven-Gunnar

  • Department of Aquatic Resources (SLU Aqua), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Ovegård, Maria

  • Department of Aquatic Resources (SLU Aqua), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Zoology
Behavioral Sciences Biology

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2981-8_61
• ISBN: 978-1-4939-2980-1
• eISBN: 978-1-4939-2981-8

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/56196