xii
Preface
interest, but to the scarcity of information resulting from the difficulties of
working with these large animals.
This volume starts with an overview by Au of hearing by whales and dolphins, and their remarkable echolocation capabilities. In Chapter 2, Ketten
discusses the structure of the ears of cetaceans and speculates on hearing
capabilities from morphological data. The sound production system in
odontocetes is unique among vertebrates, and this system is described by
Cranford in Chapter 3. In Chapter 4, Tyack and Clark discuss acoustic
communication, one of the most important forms of communication
for cetaceans, followed by Herzing in Chapter 5, who discusses the role of
sounds in wild dolphin societies. The auditory CNS in dolphins is considered from an anatomical and neural physiological viewpoint by Ridgway
in Chapter 5. Dr. William Dolphin follows with a treatment of the electrophysiological response of the dolphin auditory system in Chapter 7. Hearing
capabilities of dolphins are discussed from a psychoacoustic perspective by
Nachtigall and his colleagues in Chapter 8 and the echolocation system of
dolphins is considered in Chapter 9 by Au. Finally, in Chapter 10, Aroyan
and colleagues discuss an acoustic model of sound propagation in dolphins
and another model of sound production in the blue whale.
As is generally the case with volumes in this series, there is a strong interrelationship with chapters in other volumes. Clearly, contrasts between
many of these chapters, including those by Au, Ketten, Dolphin, Herzing,
Ridgway, and Nachtigall et al. can be made with similar systems in bats, as
described in several chapters in Vol. 5 of this series, Hearing by Bats. In
addition, the chapter on ear structure in dolphins by Ketten should be
examined along with the chapter by Echteler, Fay, and Popper in Vol. 4 on
Comparative Hearing: Mammals and by Slepecky in Vol. 8, The Cochlea.
While far less is known about the auditory pathway in dolphins and
whales than in terrestrial mammals, useful comparison may be gleaned by
comparing the material in this volume by Ridgway and various chapters in
Vol. 1 of the series, The Mammalian Auditory Pathway: Neuroanatomy.
Finally, the material on hearing capabilities, as discussed by Nachtigall et
aI., nicely contrasts to the data for terrestrial vertebrates as described by
chapters written by Long in Vol. 4 and several authors in Vol. 3, Human
Psychophysics.
Whitlow w.L. Au, Kailua, HI
Arthur N. Popper, College Park, MD
Richard R. Fay, Chicago, IL
Preface
interest, but to the scarcity of information resulting from the difficulties of
working with these large animals.
This volume starts with an overview by Au of hearing by whales and dolphins, and their remarkable echolocation capabilities. In Chapter 2, Ketten
discusses the structure of the ears of cetaceans and speculates on hearing
capabilities from morphological data. The sound production system in
odontocetes is unique among vertebrates, and this system is described by
Cranford in Chapter 3. In Chapter 4, Tyack and Clark discuss acoustic
communication, one of the most important forms of communication
for cetaceans, followed by Herzing in Chapter 5, who discusses the role of
sounds in wild dolphin societies. The auditory CNS in dolphins is considered from an anatomical and neural physiological viewpoint by Ridgway
in Chapter 5. Dr. William Dolphin follows with a treatment of the electrophysiological response of the dolphin auditory system in Chapter 7. Hearing
capabilities of dolphins are discussed from a psychoacoustic perspective by
Nachtigall and his colleagues in Chapter 8 and the echolocation system of
dolphins is considered in Chapter 9 by Au. Finally, in Chapter 10, Aroyan
and colleagues discuss an acoustic model of sound propagation in dolphins
and another model of sound production in the blue whale.
As is generally the case with volumes in this series, there is a strong interrelationship with chapters in other volumes. Clearly, contrasts between
many of these chapters, including those by Au, Ketten, Dolphin, Herzing,
Ridgway, and Nachtigall et al. can be made with similar systems in bats, as
described in several chapters in Vol. 5 of this series, Hearing by Bats. In
addition, the chapter on ear structure in dolphins by Ketten should be
examined along with the chapter by Echteler, Fay, and Popper in Vol. 4 on
Comparative Hearing: Mammals and by Slepecky in Vol. 8, The Cochlea.
While far less is known about the auditory pathway in dolphins and
whales than in terrestrial mammals, useful comparison may be gleaned by
comparing the material in this volume by Ridgway and various chapters in
Vol. 1 of the series, The Mammalian Auditory Pathway: Neuroanatomy.
Finally, the material on hearing capabilities, as discussed by Nachtigall et
aI., nicely contrasts to the data for terrestrial vertebrates as described by
chapters written by Long in Vol. 4 and several authors in Vol. 3, Human
Psychophysics.
Whitlow w.L. Au, Kailua, HI
Arthur N. Popper, College Park, MD
Richard R. Fay, Chicago, IL