Sound to the Bone: How Baleen Whales Hear

"Bone conduction is likely the predominant mechanism for hearing in fin whales and other baleen whales," Cranford explained. "This is, in my opinion, a grand discovery."

Sounds Like Trouble

So why is this important? The researchers stress that understanding how whales hear can help conservationists determine which man-made noises could specifically affect whale communities and how.

Other studies have revealed that many man-made noises, such as sonar signaling and the rumble of engines, can distrupt ocean life. Back in July it was even revealed that disruptive unnatural frequencies reaching the ocean floor could be leading to a mass decline in sea hare populations.

It was also thought that these noises - often at low frequencies - could be disrupting communication among whales that are already having a hard time. As things stand, blue whales, minke whales, right whales, humpback whales, and fin whales are all classified as threatened or endangered, according to the IUCN Red List.

And while baleen whale decline has certainly been associated with excessive whaling and pollution in the past, factors like disrupted communication could be making recovery hard-won for this species today.

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