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.

中文翻译：

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太平洋海象（Odobenus rosmarus divergens）空中听力范围的行为评估

野生海象（Odobenus rosmarus）的保护状况受到北极迅速变暖、季节性海冰消失以及与人为活动和相关噪音相关的压力增加的影响。尽管已知海象易受人类干扰，但关于海象声学敏感性的数据很少。在这里，我们提供了新信息来描述海象可以听到的声音频率范围。这些数据是通过与海象保护联盟和两个动物园机构的合作获得的。两只成年雌性海象通过对大约 80 dB 和 20 μPa 的相对高振幅的空气音调做出反应，在听觉检测任务中进行合作。一旦性能可靠，行为反应被推广到跨越六个八度以上的频率范围。听力的上限和下限是在听力测试期间使用完全校准的声音确定的。结果证实，空气中的听觉范围从 60 Hz 扩展到 23 kHz。水中的听力范围预计在高频下相似或更宽。这项研究提供的证据表明，海象的听力与其他海洋食肉动物（包括海豹、海狮和海獭）的听力不同，并且比该物种的早期报告所建议的要好。水中的听力范围预计在高频下相似或更宽。这项研究提供的证据表明，海象的听力与其他海洋食肉动物（包括海豹、海狮和海獭）的听力不同，并且比该物种的早期报告所建议的要好。水中的听力范围预计在高频下相似或更宽。这项研究提供的证据表明，海象的听力与其他海洋食肉动物（包括海豹、海狮和海獭）的听力不同，并且比该物种的早期报告所建议的要好。