Capture and release of Minke whales offers new research opportunities, including measurements of mysticete hearing

Predicting and mitigating anthropogenic ocean noise impacts on marine animals is hindered by a lack of information on hearing in these species. We established a catch-and-release program to temporarily hold adolescent Minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) for hearing tests during their summer migration. In 2023, two Minke whales provided measures of the auditory brainstem response and data on the frequency range of their hearing. Results show that Minke whales are sensitive to sound frequencies as high as 45 – 90 kHz. These tests provide information on the types of anthropogenic noise that could affect Minke whales and, at least, other related baleen whale species.

Methods
This data was acquired using the Evoked Response Study Tool created by Dr. James Finneran at the Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific. The data consists of binary files of recordings made with a data acquisition system from National Instruments. The system digitized voltages collected from the skin surface and produced in response to the transmission of an acoustic stimulus. The voltages were filtered (0.3-3 kHz or 0.03-3 kHz) and amplified (94 dB) prior to digitization at a rate of 250 kHz. Each binary file is associated with .aep file. The .aep file is a text file containing a header with a description of the data collection parameters and text showing the processed output of the binary file. Processing consisted of the coherent averaging of segments from within the binary file.