Masked auditory thresholds in sciaenid fishes: a comparative study

Western Atlantic sciaenids comprise a taxonomically diverse teleost family with significant variations in the relationship between the swim bladder and the otic capsule. In this study, the auditory brainstem response (ABR) was used to test the hypothesis that fishes with different peripheral auditory structures (black drum, Pogonias chromis and Atlantic croaker, Micropogonias undulatus) show differences in frequency selectivity. In a black drum the swim bladder is relatively distant from the otic capsule while the swim bladder in Atlantic croaker possesses anteriorly-directed diverticulas that terminate relatively near the otic capsule. Signals were pure tones in the frequency range, 100 Hz to 1.5 kHz, and thresholds were determined both with and without the presence of simultaneous white noise at two intensity levels (124 dB and 136 dB, re: 1 microPa). At the 124 dB level of white noise background, both the black drum and Atlantic croaker showed similar changes in auditory sensitivity. However, in the presence of the 136 dB white noise masker, black drum showed significantly greater shifts in auditory thresholds between 300 and 600 Hz. The results indicate that the two species differ in frequency selectivity since the Atlantic croaker was less susceptible to auditory threshold shifts, particularly at the higher level of masking. This difference may be linked to peripheral auditory mechanisms.     

North Pacific right whale up-call source levels and propagation distance on the southeastern Bering Sea shelf

Call source levels, transmission loss, and ambient noise levels were estimated for North Pacific right whale (Eubalaena japonica) up-calls recorded in the southeastern Bering Sea in autumn of 2000 and 2001. Distances to calling animals, needed to estimate source levels, were based on two independent techniques: (1) arrival-time differences on three or more hydrophones and (2) shallow-water dispersion of normal modes on a single receiver. Average root-mean-square (rms) call source levels estimated by the two techniques were 178 and 176 dB re 1 μPa at 1 m, respectively, over the up-call frequency band, which was determined per call and averaged 90 to 170 Hz. Peak-to-peak source levels were 14 to 22 dB greater than rms levels. Transmission loss was approximately 15?log(10)(range), intermediate between cylindrical and spherical spreading. Ambient ocean noise within the up-call band varied from 72 to 91 dB re 1 μPa(2)/Hz. Under average noise conditions, call spectrograms were detectable for whales at distances up to 100 km, but propagation and detection distance may vary depending on environmental parameters and anthropogenic noise. Obtaining distances to animals and acoustic detection range is a step toward using long-term passive acoustic recordings to estimate abundance for this critically endangered whale population.     

Prediction of outdoor sound transmission loss with an artificial neural network

An artificial neural network is developed for rapid prediction of sound transmission loss (TL) during propagation outdoors. The network predicts TL for a nonturbulent atmosphere from inputs involving the source/receiver propagation geometry (height range: 0-5 m, horizontal separation distance: 100-900 m), source frequency (range: 20-200 Hz), ground properties, and atmospheric refractive profile characteristics. A parabolic equation (PE) code generates the training and test data sets for the network. To ensure that a minimal set of input parameters is used in the network training, a nondimensional version of the PE and accompanying boundary, initial, and atmospheric conditions is developed. A total of 10 independent, nondimensional input parameters are found to be necessary for the training. Approximately 27,000 random cases involving these 10 parameters are generated used to train networks with varying numbers of neurons. The root mean square (RMS) error between random test cases solved by the PE and corresponding neural network predictions was 2.42 dB when a sufficient number of neurons (about 44) are included in the hidden layer. Also, only 18% of the cases resulted in RMS errors that were greater than 2 dB.     

Michelson干涉仪式光纤空气声传感器

介绍了一种用于直升机等低空目标探测的光纤空气声传感器.该传感器基于光纤Michelson干涉仪的原理,结合弹性盘片的应力应变理论分析和光纤粘接的工艺设计,采用相位载波解调技术进行信号解调.对比实验测试验证了这种声音探测技术可行性.传感器理论灵敏度为2.38 rad/Pa,实测灵敏度为1.5 rad/Pa,采用PGC相位解调理论最小可探测的最小声信号为6.7 μPa,即9.5 dB.传感器在20～300 Hz范围内响应基本平坦.结合声音传播规律分析并肯定其在实用中的可行性.     

Vocal characteristics of pygmy blue whales and their change over time

Vocal characteristics of pygmy blue whales of the eastern Indian Ocean population were analyzed using data from a hydroacoustic station deployed off Cape Leeuwin in Western Australia as part of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty monitoring network, from two acoustic observatories of the Australian Integrated Marine Observing System, and from individual sea noise loggers deployed in the Perth Canyon. These data have been collected from 2002 to 2010, inclusively. It is shown that the themes of pygmy blue whale songs consist of ether three or two repeating tonal sounds with harmonics. The most intense sound of the tonal theme was estimated to correspond to a source level of 179 ± 2 dB re 1 μPa at 1 m measured for 120 calls from seven different animals. Short-duration calls of impulsive downswept sound from pygmy blue whales were weaker with the source level estimated to vary between 168 to 176 dB. A gradual decrease in the call frequency with a mean rate estimated to be 0.35 ± 0.3 Hz/year was observed over nine years in the frequency of the third harmonic of tonal sound 2 in the whale song theme, which corresponds to a negative trend of about 0.12 Hz/year in the call fundamental frequency.     

Gender differences in children's singing voices: acoustic analyses and results of a listening test

Ultrasonic coded transmitters (UCTs) producing frequencies of 69-83 kHz are used increasingly to track fish and invertebrates in coastal and estuarine waters. To address concerns that they might be audible to marine mammals, acoustic properties of UCTs were measured off Mission Beach, San Diego, and at the U.S. Navy TRANSDEC facility. A regression model fitted to VEMCO UCT data yielded an estimated source level of 147 dB re 1 μPa SPL @ 1 m and spreading constant of 14.0. Based on TRANSDEC measurements, five VEMCO 69 kHz UCTs had source levels ranging from 146 to 149 dB re 1 μPa SPL @ 1 m. Five Sonotronics UCTs (69 kHz and 83 kHz) had source levels ranging from 129 to 137 dB re 1 μPa SPL @ 1 m. Transmitter directionality ranged from 3.9 to 18.2 dB. Based on propagation models and published data on marine mammal auditory psychophysics, harbor seals potentially could detect the VEMCO 69 kHz UCTs at ranges between 19 and >200 m, while odontocetes potentially could detect them at much greater ranges. California sea lions were not expected to detect any of the tested UCTs at useful ranges.     

A threatened beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) population in the traffic lane: vessel-generated noise characteristics of the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park, Canada

The threatened resident beluga population of the St. Lawrence Estuary shares the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park with significant anthropogenic noise sources, including marine commercial traffic and a well-established, vessel-based whale-watching industry. Frequency-dependent (FD) weighting was used to approximate beluga hearing sensitivity to determine how noise exposure varied in time and space at six sites of high beluga summer residency. The relative contribution of each source to acoustic habitat degradation was estimated by measuring noise levels throughout the summer and noise signatures of typical vessel classes with respect to traffic volume and sound propagation characteristics. Rigid-hulled inflatable boats were the dominant noise source with respect to estimated beluga hearing sensitivity in the studied habitats due to their high occurrence and proximity, high correlation with site-specific FD-weighted sound levels, and the dominance of mid-frequencies (0.3-23 kHz) in their noise signatures. Median C-weighted sound pressure level (SPL(RMS)) had a range of 19 dB re 1 μPa between the noisiest and quietest sites. Broadband SPL(RMS) exceeded 120 dB re 1 μPa 8-32% of the time depending on the site. Impacts of these noise levels on St. Lawrence beluga will depend on exposure recurrence and individual responsiveness.     

Miniature photonic-crystal hydrophone optimized for ocean acoustics

This work reports on an optical hydrophone that is insensitive to hydrostatic pressure, yet capable of measuring acoustic pressures as low as the background noise in the ocean in a frequency range of 1 Hz to 100 kHz. The miniature hydrophone consists of a Fabry-Perot interferometer made of a photonic-crystal reflector interrogated with a single-mode fiber and is compatible with existing fiber-optic technologies. Three sensors with different acoustic power ranges placed within a sub-wavelength sized hydrophone head allow a high dynamic range in the excess of 160 dB with a low harmonic distortion of better than -30 dB. A method for suppressing cross-coupling between sensors in the same hydrophone head is also proposed. A prototype was fabricated, assembled, and tested. The sensitivity was measured from 100 Hz to 100 kHz, demonstrating a sound-pressure-equivalent noise spectral density down to 12 μPa/Hz(1/2), a flatband wider than 10 kHz, and very low distortion.     

Representation of concurrent acoustic objects in primary auditory cortex

Auditory scene analysis involves the simultaneous grouping and parsing of acoustic data into separate mental representations (i.e., objects). Over two experiments, we examined the sequence of neural processes underlying concurrent sound segregation by means of recording of human middle latency auditory evoked responses. Participants were presented with complex sounds comprising several harmonics, one of which could be mistuned such that it was not an integer multiple of the fundamental frequency. In both experiments, Na (approximately 22 ms) and Pa (approximately 32 ms) waves were reliably generated for all classes of stimuli. For stimuli with a fundamental frequency of 200 Hz, the mean Pa amplitude was significantly larger when the third harmonic was mistuned by 16% of its original value, relative to when it was tuned. The enhanced Pa amplitude was related to an increased likelihood in reporting the presence of concurrent auditory objects. Our results are consistent with a low-level stage of auditory scene analysis in which acoustic properties such as mistuning act as preattentive segregation cues that can subsequently lead to the perception of multiple auditory objects.     

Killer whale (Orcinus orca) hearing: auditory brainstem response and behavioral audiograms.

Killer whale (Orcinus orca) audiograms were measured using behavioral responses and auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) from two trained adult females. The mean auditory brainstem response (ABR) audiogram to tones between 1 and 100 kHz was 12 dB (re 1 mu Pa) less sensitive than behavioral audiograms from the same individuals (+/- 8 dB). The ABR and behavioral audiogram curves had shapes that were generally consistent and had the best threshold agreement (5 dB) in the most sensitive range 18-42 kHz, and the least (22 dB) at higher frequencies 60-100 kHz. The most sensitive frequency in the mean Orcinus audiogram was 20 kHz (36 dB), a frequency lower than many other odontocetes, but one that matches peak spectral energy reported for wild killer whale echolocation clicks. A previously reported audiogram of a male Orcinus had greatest sensitivity in this range (15 kHz, approximately 35 dB). Both whales reliably responded to 100-kHz tones (95 dB), and one whale to a 120-kHz tone, a variation from an earlier reported high-frequency limit of 32 kHz for a male Orcinus. Despite smaller amplitude ABRs than smaller delphinids, the results demonstrated that ABR audiometry can provide a useful suprathreshold estimate of hearing range in toothed whales.     

Hybrid measurement of auditory steady-state responses and distortion product otoacoustic emissions using an amplitude-modulated primary tone

A maximum auditory steady-state response (ASSR) amplitude is yielded when the ASSR is elicited by an amplitude-modulated tone (f(c)) with a fixed modulation frequency (f(m) = 40 Hz), whereas the maximum distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) level is yielded when the DPOAE is elicited using a fixed frequency ratio of the primary tones (f2/f1 = 1.2). When eliciting the DPOAE and ASSR by the same tone pair, optimal stimulation is present for either DPOAE or ASSR and thus adequate simultaneous DPOAE/ASSR measurement is not possible across test frequency f2 or f(c), respectively. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether the ASSR and DPOAE can be measured simultaneously without notable restrictions using a DPOAE stimulus setting in which one primary tone is amplitude modulated. A DPOAE of frequency 2f1-f2 and ASSR of modulation frequency 41 Hz were measured in ten normal hearing subjects at a test frequency between 0.5 and 8 kHz (f2 = f(c)). The decrease in the DPOAE level and the loss in ASSR amplitude during hybrid mode stimulation amounted, on average, to only 2.60 dB [standard deviation (SD) = 1.38 dB] and 1.83 dB (SD = 2.38 dB), respectively. These findings suggest simultaneous DPOAE and ASSR measurements to be feasible across all test frequencies when using a DPOAE stimulus setting where the primary tone f2 is amplitude modulated.     

ZnO薄膜硅微压电矢量水听器

提出了一种基于ZnO压电薄膜的硅微压电矢量水听器,其核心部件是利用微电子机械系统(MEMS)技术制作的悬臂梁结构压电加速度计。由近似解析和有限元分析,得出加速度计的灵敏度和谐振频率,并在此基础上对其进行了优化设计。研制了MEMS压电加速度计,并装配后构成MEMS矢量水听器。测试结果表明:加速度灵敏度在20~1,200 Hz范围内约为0.83 mV/(m/s2)。经过液柱法测量,在1 kHz时,MEMS矢量水听器等效声压灵敏度为-229.5 dB (ref.1V/μPa),比同类型压阻式MEMS矢量水听器的灵敏度高17 dB以上。      

Structural and functional effects of acoustic exposure in goldfish: evidence for tonotopy in the teleost saccule

Background  

Mammalian and avian auditory hair cells display tonotopic mapping of frequency along the length of the cochlea and basilar papilla. It is not known whether the auditory hair cells of fishes possess a similar tonotopic organization in the saccule, which is thought to be the primary auditory receptor in teleosts. To investigate this question, we determined the location of hair cell damage in the saccules of goldfish (Carassius auratus) following exposure to specific frequencies. Subjects were divided into six groups of six fish each (five treatment groups plus control). The treatment groups were each exposed to one of five tones: 100, 400, 800, 2000, and 4000 Hz at 176 dB re 1 μPa root mean squared (RMS) for 48 hours. The saccules of each fish were dissected and labeled with phalloidin in order to visualize hair cell bundles. The hair cell bundles were counted at 19 specific locations in each saccule to determine the extent and location of hair cell damage. In addition to quantification of anatomical injury, hearing tests (using auditory evoked potentials) were performed on each fish immediately following sound exposure. Threshold shifts were calculated by subtracting control thresholds from post-sound exposure thresholds.     

硅微ZnO压电薄膜传声器的研制

本文介绍了一种利用ZnO压电薄膜为换能器的硅微压电薄膜传声器的制备,并且对微机械加工工艺过程进行了较为详细的描述。本文对传声器的部分结构进行改进,与通常设计相比较大幅提高了传声器的性能,1000Hz基准频率的灵敏度达到-85dB(相对于1V/Pa),500Hz到10000Hz的频率响应的平坦度在±3dB范围内。     

Estimated source intensity and active space of the American alligator (Alligator Mississippiensis) vocal display

In this article the results are reported of a study to measure the intensity of the vocal displays of a population of American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis). It was found that the dominant frequencies in air range between 20 and 250 Hz with a source sound pressure level (SPL) of 91-94 dB at 1 m. The active space for the air-borne component is defined by the background and was estimated to be in a range up to 159 m in the 125-200 Hz band. For the water-borne component the dominant frequency range was 20-100 Hz with a source SPL of 121-125 dB at 1 m. The active space in water is defined by hearing thresholds and was estimated to range up to 1.5 km in the 63-100 Hz band. In the lowest frequency bands, i.e., 16-50 Hz, the estimated active space for otolith detection of near-field particle motion in water ranged to 80 m, which compared significantly with far-field detection for these frequencies. It is suggested that alligator vocal communication may involve two distinct sensory mechanisms which may subserve the functions of scene analysis and reproduction, respectively.     

一种具有声低通滤波特性的无源零差光纤水听器

报道了一种新颖的具有抗混叠功能的无源零差迈克耳孙型光纤水听器.它由一个普通的芯轴型光纤水听器和一个圆柱型亥姆霍兹共振器构成.在驻波罐中对其声压相位灵敏度频响进行了测量,结果表明该光纤水听器具有较好的声低通滤波特性,能有效地抑制声信号中的高频成分,从而实现抗混叠滤波.该光纤水听器的低频声压相位灵敏度主要由传感光纤长度和弹性增敏层的物理特性决定,约为-159 dB(0 dB=1 rad/μPa).在1150 Hz附近出现了一个共振峰,这主要由圆柱型亥姆霍兹共振器的声学特性决定.1150～2280 Hz频段内的灵敏度衰减率约为50 dB/倍频程,1500 Hz以后的灵敏度衰减量大于10 dB.这对于提高我国未来声纳系统的抗干扰能力具有十分重要的意义.     

Estimated communication range and energetic cost of bottlenose dolphin whistles in a tropical habitat

Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops sp.) depend on frequency-modulated whistles for many aspects of their social behavior, including group cohesion and recognition of familiar individuals. Vocalization amplitude and frequency influences communication range and may be shaped by many ecological and physiological factors including energetic costs. Here, a calibrated GPS-synchronized hydrophone array was used to record the whistles of bottlenose dolphins in a tropical shallow-water environment with high ambient noise levels. Acoustic localization techniques were used to estimate the source levels and energy content of individual whistles. Bottlenose dolphins produced whistles with mean source levels of 146.7 ± 6.2 dB re. 1 μPa(RMS). These were lower than source levels estimated for a population inhabiting the quieter Moray Firth, indicating that dolphins do not necessarily compensate for the high noise levels found in noisy tropical habitats by increasing their source level. Combined with measured transmission loss and noise levels, these source levels provided estimated median communication ranges of 750 m and maximum communication ranges up to 5740 m. Whistles contained less than 17 mJ of acoustic energy, showing that the energetic cost of whistling is small compared to the high metabolic rate of these aquatic mammals, and unlikely to limit the vocal activity of toothed whales.     

Effect of masker harmonicity on informational masking

Detection thresholds for a tone in an unfamiliar tonal pattern can be greatly elevated under conditions of masker uncertainty [Neff and Green, Percept. Psychophys. 41, 409-415 (1987); Oh and Lutfi, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 101, 3148 (1997)]. The present experiment was undertaken to determine whether harmonicity of masker tones can reduce the detrimental effect of masker uncertainty. Inharmonic maskers were comprised of m=2-49 frequency components selected at random on each presentation within 100-10000 Hz, excluding frequencies between 920-1080. Harmonic maskers were comprised of frequency components selected at random within this same range, but constrained to have a fundamental frequency of 200 Hz. For inharmonic maskers the signal was a 1000-Hz tone. For harmonic-maskers the signal was a tone whose frequency was either harmonically (1000 Hz) or inharmonically (1047 Hz) related to the masker. In all conditions the amount of masking was greatest for m = 20-40 components. At this point, harmonic maskers with harmonic signal produced an average of 9-12 dB less masking than inharmonic maskers. Harmonic maskers with inharmonic signal produced an average of 16-20 dB less masking.     

干涉型光纤水听器伪工作点控制检测方法

提出了一种用于干涉型光纤水听器信号检测的伪工作点控制方法.为了验证该方法的可行性,搭建了干涉型光纤水听器声压灵敏度测量系统,编写了实时信号采集和处理程序,对某一光纤水听器进行了测量.在频带20 Hz~2.5 kHz上,该光纤水听器的声压灵敏度为－156.5 dB(0 dB=1 rad/μPa),频响波动<±0.8 dB,与采用PGC调制解调方法测量的结果基本一致.由于传感部分不含有源器件,该方法实现了无源检测.另外,它还具有解调算法简单、检测频带宽等优点.     

Underwater ambient noise on the Chukchi Sea continental slope from 2006-2009

From September 2006 to June 2009, an autonomous acoustic recorder measured ambient noise north of Barrow, Alaska on the continental slope at 235 m depth, between the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas. Mean monthly spectrum levels, selected to exclude impulsive events, show that months with open-water had the highest noise levels (80-83 dB re: 1 μPa(2)/Hz at 20-50 Hz), months with ice coverage had lower spectral levels (70 dB at 50 Hz), and months with both ice cover and low wind speeds had the lowest noise levels (65 dB at 50 Hz). During ice covered periods in winter-spring there was significant transient energy between 10 and 100 Hz from ice fracture events. During ice covered periods in late spring there were significantly fewer transient events. Ambient noise increased with wind speed by ~ 1 dB/m/s for relatively open-water (0%-25% ice cover) and by ~ 0.5 dB/m/s for nearly complete ice cover (> 75%). In September and early October for all years, mean noise levels were elevated by 2-8 dB due to the presence of seismic surveys in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas.