Q&A with Dr. Manuel Castellote: Listening to whales
Dr. Manuel Castellote shares his story and experiences studying and listening to whales.
Ever since my childhood growing up in Spain, I’ve been interested in animals.
He recalls an incident from his childhood where he sat on the roof to observe cats, showcasing his early interest in animal behavior.
Dr. Castellote's fascination with the ocean environment led him to study marine biology and eventually bioacoustics, the study of animal sounds.
He was particularly drawn to whales and dolphins due to their curiosity and the fact that sound is their dominant sense.
Unlike humans, who rely on eyesight, marine mammals use sound to navigate their environment, as water density allows sound to travel more easily and farther.
As Dr. Castellote explains,
if I shout into the air, the sound becomes fainter the farther it travels. But in the water, that fade is much milder.
Author summary: Dr. Manuel Castellote studies whales through bioacoustics.