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 a childhood incident where he sat on the roof to observe cats, showcasing his early fascination with animals.
Dr. Castellote's interest in the ocean environment led him to study marine biology and eventually bioacoustics, the study of animal sounds.
He 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...
According to Dr. Castellote, sound travels more easily and farther in water because it is denser than air, allowing marine mammals to navigate their environment more effectively.
Author's summary: Dr. Manuel Castellote studies whales through bioacoustics.