Q&A with Dr. Manuel Castellote: Listening to Whales
Dr. Manuel Castellote shares his experiences studying and listening to whales.
Ever since my childhood growing up in Spain, I’ve been interested in animals.
He recalls an incident where he sat on the roof to observe cats, showcasing his early fascination with animals.
His interest in the ocean environment led him to study marine biology and eventually bioacoustics, the study of animal sounds.
Dr. Castellote was drawn to whales and dolphins due to their curiosity and the fact that sound is their dominant sense.
We humans use our eyes to scope out the world around us. For marine mammals, the dominant sense is sound...
He explains that sound travels more easily and farther in water because it is denser than air, making it an essential sense for marine mammals.
Author's summary: Dr. Manuel Castellote discusses his fascination with whales and bioacoustics.