Abstract
A comprehensive series of underwater psychoacoustic tests was conducted to measure the hearing abilities of West Indian manatees. Pure tones, complex and real world sounds were presented to manatees under controlled acoustical conditions. The results from 30 000 threshold trials measured their audiogram, temporal integration, critical ratios, MMAs and directional hearing. Complementing these investigations, underwater acoustical measurements of manatee habitats and vessel noise propagation were conducted to evaluate acoustical factors that render Florida manatees vulnerable to repeated collisions with vessels. Both low‐frequency cutoffs in shallow water and near surface boundary effects limit the propagation of the dominant low‐frequency spectra from slow moving boats. Slow speed zones implemented to protect manatees do not address this underlying acoustical challenge. Ironically, the strategy can be counter‐productive in turbid waters and can exacerbate the problem, making vessels more difficult or impos...
Published Version
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