Principles of Marine Bioacoustics - (Modern Acoustics and Signal Processing) by Whitlow W L Au & Mardi C Hastings (Hardcover)

About the Book

This important new work is about studying the acoustics of marine animals using underwater acoustic techniques. The book discusses and unites the various areas of marine bioacoustics in a single comprehensive text.

Book Synopsis

Humans have always been fascinated by marine life, from extremely small diatoms to the largest mammal that inhabits our planet, the blue whale. However, studying marine life in the ocean is an extremely difficult propo- tion because an ocean environment is not only vast but also opaque to most instruments and can be a hostile environment in which to perform expe- ments and research. The use of acoustics is one way to effectively study animal life in the ocean. Acoustic energy propagates in water more efficiently than almost any form of energy and can be utilized by animals for a variety of purposes and also by scientists interested in studying their behavior and natural history. However, underwater acoustics have traditionally been in the domain of physicists, engineers and mathematicians. Studying the natural history of animals is in the domain of biologists and physiologists. Und- standing behavior of animals has traditionally involved psychologists and zoologists. In short, marine bioacoustics is and will continue to be a diverse discipline involving investigators from a variety of backgrounds, with very different knowledge and skill sets. The inherent inter-disciplinary nature of marine bioacoustics presents a large challenge in writing a single text that would be meaningful to various investigators and students interested in this field. Yet we have embarked on this challenge to produce a volume that would be helpful to not only beginning investigators but to seasoned researchers.

From the Back Cover

Principles of Marine Bioacoustics is about studying the acoustics of marine animals using underwater acoustic techniques. The book discusses and unites the various areas of marine bioacoustics in a single comprehensive text. It covers important subjects associated with marine bioacoustics such as the measurement and generation of underwater sounds, the propagation of acoustic signals in the marine environment and in small tanks, signal processing techniques, and advanced devices used in the field. Also covered are topics relating to marine animals, such as methods to record and acquire acoustic signals from animals, their auditory systems and vocalizations, psychological and physiological testing procedures, and echolocation in marine mammals.

This book is aimed at marine biologists and biological oceanographers. It is also relevant for professionals working with government agencies such as the National Marine Fisheries Service or organizations such as the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

Review Quotes

From the reviews:

"Provides a comprehensive overview of the bioacoustics of marine life. It is targeted for bioacousticians, and is intended to focus on areas of knowledge that they should master. ... This book achieves its objective of providing that knowledge base. It also is a valuable information source for engineers and scientists with a background in acoustics, and who are interested in gaining insights into the bioacoustics of marine life. ... a valuable information source on marine bioacoustics and is recommended." (Martin L. Pollack, Noise Control Engineering Journal, Vol. 58 (6), November-December, 2010)

"The book incorporates detailed qualitative and quantitative information and analysis of the sounds produced by marine life with a particular emphasis on marine mammals. ... the book contains a vast amount of useful information supported by extensive experimental evidence. ... The descriptions of experimental design, measurement, and analysis techniques make this a good starting point for someone planning further experiments in this domain. ... I recommend this book to anyone searching for knowledge of marine bioacoustics." (Adrian Brown, International Journal of Acoustics and Vibration, Vol. 16 (2), 2011)

About the Author

Whitlow W.L. Au and Mardi C. Hastings have been involved with scientific acoustic research on marine animals for many years and their total combined span of time in this field extends over 5 decades.