Navigation Links
Manatees can probably hear which directions boats approach from
Date:6/11/2009

The world is a perilous place for the endangered manatee. While the mammals are at risk from natural threats, human activity also poses a great danger to manatee numbers. Debborah Colbert, from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, explains that many manatees die and are seriously injured in collisions with boats every year. However, little is known about how manatees perceive their environment. Whether they can localize sounds, and specifically whether they can tell which direction a boat is approaching from, are crucial factors in the development of manatee protection programmes. Colbert and her colleagues from the Universities of Florida and South Florida and the New College of Florida decided to test whether the mammals can pinpoint sound sources. They publish their results on 12 June 2009 in the Journal of Experimental Biology at http://jeb.biologists.org.

Working at the Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium in Florida, Colbert was able to work with two male manatees, Hugh and Buffett, when she initiated a research programme to find out more about these enigmatic creatures. Both young males had been trained previously to participate in a series of sensory studies, so Colbert, Joseph Gaspard 3rd, Gordon Bauer and Roger Reep trained the animals to swim to a specific stationing platform in their enclosure where they could listen to sounds played from one of four speakers arranged around their heads.

Knowing that the manatees' hearing was most sensitive to sounds ranging from 10 to 20kHz, while the animals' calls range from 2.5 to 6kHz, Colbert and David Mann designed three sounds ranging from 0.2 to 20kHz, 6 to 20kHz and 0.2 to 2kHz to play to the animals. The team also selected two single frequency (tonal) sounds at 4kHz and 16kHz to test how the manatees responded to less complex sounds. Having trained the manatees to swim to the speaker that they thought the sound came from, the team then pla
'/>"/>

Contact: Kathryn Knight
kathryn@biologists.com
44-122-342-5525
The Company of Biologists
Source:Eurekalert

1

GOOD

Page: 1 2

Related biology news :

1. How an enzyme tells stem cells which way to divide
2. CSHL-led team identifies key decision-point at which cells with broken DNA repair themselves or die
3. CSHL researchers explain process by which cells hide potentially dangerous DNA segments
4. CSHL scientists discover new way in which ubiquitin modifies transcriptional machinery
5. CSHL scientists discover a new way in which epigenetic information is inherited
6. Current mass extinction spurs major study of which plants to save
7. Graduate Education in Physics: Which Way Forward?
8. 1 person out of every 1,000 has synaesthesia, in which an individual can smell a sound
9. Which came first, the chicken genome or the egg genome?
10. Which came first, the moth or the cactus?
11. Equity concerns raised by congestion pricing can be addressed to make approach viable
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
(Date:5/21/2013)... A new analysis shows that the nation,s land ... enough algae to produce up to 25 billion gallons ... one-twelfth of the country,s yearly needs. , The findings ... that would be needed to grow significant amounts of ... were published in the May 7 issue of ...
(Date:5/21/2013)... Researchers at USC have found that a class of ... mice. , The drugs, known as "TSPO ligands," ... "We looked at the effects of TSPO ligand in ... stage, and in aged mice when pathology was quite ... Davis School of Gerontology. "TSPO ligand reduced measures of ...
(Date:5/21/2013)... Cancers of all types become most deadly when they ... has reached this stage, it becomes very difficult for ... can develop. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri ... target lymphoma tumor cells wherever they may be in ... in the MU College of Veterinary Medicine, says being ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Going green: Nation equipped to grow serious amounts of pond scum for fuel 2Going green: Nation equipped to grow serious amounts of pond scum for fuel 3Going green: Nation equipped to grow serious amounts of pond scum for fuel 4Drugs found to both prevent and treat Alzheimer's disease in mice 2MU researchers develop radioactive nanoparticles that target cancer cells 2
... French . MONTREAL, March 1, 2011 ... rare genetic disease, researchers have discovered how three genes contribute ... understanding of many disorders such as foetal and childhood growth ... result of the Human Genome Project, we know the basic ...
... Cambridge, MASS- When your brain encounters sensory stimuli, such as ... a honking car, that input gets shuttled to the appropriate ... olfactory cortex, while sounds are processed in the auditory cortex. ... follows a predetermined, genetic blueprint. However, evidence is mounting that ...
... Canuel of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science ... Canada, and Mexico who have been awarded a ... As a Leopold Fellow, Canuel will participate in ... Capitol Hilldesigned to promote effective communication of science ...
Cached Biology News:Researchers looking at a rare disease make breakthrough that could benefit everyone 2Researchers looking at a rare disease make breakthrough that could benefit everyone 3MIT-- parts of brain can switch functions 2MIT-- parts of brain can switch functions 3MIT-- parts of brain can switch functions 4VIMS professor selected as Leopold Fellow 2VIMS professor selected as Leopold Fellow 3
(Date:5/22/2013)... and NEW ORLEANS , May 22, ... field of regenerative medicine, presented new data generated in ... Group (a leading health economics consultancy) demonstrating the significant ... (DFU) and venous leg ulcers (VLU) place upon the ... this research, which reveal annual costs of up to ...
(Date:5/22/2013)... Express Diagnostics Int’l, Inc. (EDI) , ... pleased to announce a sponsorship agreement with Erebus Motorsport ... distributor of DrugCheck® onsite testing devices, manufactured by EDI. ... Austin 400 May 17-19 in Austin, Texas. , Royal ... each car of the Erebus Motorsport team displaying the ...
(Date:5/22/2013)... -- Moderna Therapeutics, the pioneering company developing messenger RNA therapeutics™, ... in vivo production of therapeutic proteins, announced today ... Moderna in early July as its first Chief Information ... in the design and implementation of information systems underlying ... clinical operations and commercial preparedness. John has also been ...
(Date:5/21/2013)... WA (PRWEB) May 21, 2013 Through ... trainings, and funds for lab equipment, 25 organizations will ... and importance of optics and photonics in daily life ... . , The organizations, located in 10 countries, are ... to be awarded by SPIE, the international society ...
Breaking Biology Technology:Organogenesis Presents Findings from Groundbreaking Research Highlighting the Healthcare Resource and Economic Burden of Venous Leg Ulcers and Diabetic Foot Ulcers 2Organogenesis Presents Findings from Groundbreaking Research Highlighting the Healthcare Resource and Economic Burden of Venous Leg Ulcers and Diabetic Foot Ulcers 3Organogenesis Presents Findings from Groundbreaking Research Highlighting the Healthcare Resource and Economic Burden of Venous Leg Ulcers and Diabetic Foot Ulcers 4Australian Distributor of Express Diagnostics Signs Sponsorship Agreement with V8 Supercar Team 2Industry Leader John Reynders Joins Moderna Therapeutics as Chief Information Officer 2Industry Leader John Reynders Joins Moderna Therapeutics as Chief Information Officer 3Learning About Light: Education Outreach Projects Funded in 10 Countries Through First Round of SPIE Grants 2Learning About Light: Education Outreach Projects Funded in 10 Countries Through First Round of SPIE Grants 3
... Partners B.V., a leading,GMP biopharmaceutical manufacturer, announced today ... ActoGeniX, drug substance AG011 for use in a,Phase ... ActoGeniX is focused on the development and commercialization ... can,be orally administered. The Company,s lead product AG011 ...
... JERSEY CITY, New Jersey, May 14, Rosetta Genomics (Nasdaq: ... financial results on May 21, 2008, before the,U.S. markets ... a,simultaneous webcast to discuss these results at 4:30 p.m. ... conference call, U.S. and Canadian participants may,dial +1-866-966-5335; international ...
... May 14 Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc.,(OTC Bulletin Board: ACCP) ... Rodman & Renshaw 5th Annual Global Healthcare Conference to ... Hotel in Monte Carlo, Monaco.,Jeffrey B. Davis, CEO of ... at 3:10 pm local time, 9:10 am Eastern time ...
Cached Biology Technology:SynCo Bio Partners Completes Manufacture and Release of ActoGeniX' Lead Product for Phase II Clinical Trials 2SynCo Bio Partners Completes Manufacture and Release of ActoGeniX' Lead Product for Phase II Clinical Trials 3Rosetta Genomics Announces Conference Call and Webcast of First Quarter Financial Results 2Access Pharmaceuticals to Present at the Rodman & Renshaw 5th Annual Global Healthcare Conference 2
... EPS 301 Power Supply, 1. ... maximum.Constant voltage or constant current modes.Single-unit ... precision and reproducibility.Suitable for submarine, mini ... as well as semidry and mini ...
... Supply, 1. 1000 V, 400 mA, ... and constant power modes.Single-unit increments in ... reproducibility.Stores and recalls three protocols.Outstanding choice ... Multiphor II or GenePhor systems. ...
Mouse TrkC Affinity Purified Polyclonal Ab...
Immunogen: Full length M32 fusion protein. Storage: -20 C, Avoid Freeze/Thaw Cycles...
Biology Products: