Diving in darkness: whiskers as sense organs of the ringed seal (Phoca hispida saimensis)
Abstract
Underwater vocalization and the functional structure of different vibrissae of the ringed seal (Phoca hispida saimensis) of Lake Saimaa, Eastern Finland, were studied. These seals live in darkness under the ice cover for several months during the year. It is known that blind seals are managing well in the lake. Visibility under water in some parts of the area where the seals live is only 2 m. It is suggested that echolocation is used in orientation and feeding. The Saimaa seal has click and click trial underwater vocalizations. However, both the frequency and intensity of the vocalization are low compared with, for example, those of dolphins. The structural adaptations for underwater sound localization are also not well developed.
The ringed seal has, however, extremely well‐developed vibrissae. The innervation of one vibrissa is more than 10 times greater than normally found in mammals. The main structural deviations from normal mammalian vibrissae are: (1) an upper cavernous sinus, (2) a groove in the wall of the capsule at the level of the lower cavernous sinus, (3) elasticity of the connective tissue bands fixing the hair root to the capsule in the lower cavernous sinus and especially (4) the structure and innervation of the ring sinus area. Sensory elements are situated upon the glassy membrane on the surface of the outer rootsheath and in the basal cell layer of the outer rootsheath which is like a sensory epithelium. Below this epithelium a layer of liquid or gelatinous material and large amounts of glycogen are found. This sensory epithelium is especially well developed in the superciliary vibrissae. These vibrissae are protruded some millimetres when the seals are attentive. It is suggested that the vibrissae also sense sounds, which are transmitted to the sensory elements by tissue conduction through the capsule wall and via the blood sinuses. The seals may possibly detect compressional waves with the vibrissae.
Number of times cited: 36
- H. Smodlaka, I. Galex, L. Palmer, J. A. Borovac and W. A. Khamas, Ultrastructural, Sensory and Functional Anatomy of the Northern Elephant Seal (Mirounga angustirostris) Facial Vibrissae, Anatomia, Histologia, Embryologia, 46, 5, (487-496), (2017).
- Sandra J. Niederschuh, Thomas Helbig, Klaus Zimmermann, Hartmut Witte and Manuela Schmidt, Kinematic response in limb and body posture to sensory feedback from carpal sinus hairs in the rat ( Rattus norvegicus), Zoology, 121, (18), (2017).
- Daisuke Mizuguchi, Masatoshi Tsunokawa, Mamoru Kawamoto and Shiro Kohshima, Underwater vocalizations and associated behavior in captive ringed seals (Pusa hispida), Polar Biology, 39, 4, (659), (2016).
- Christopher D. Marshall, Morphology of the Bearded Seal (Erignathus barbatus) Muscular–Vibrissal Complex: A Functional Model for Phocid Subambient Pressure Generation, The Anatomical Record, 299, 8, (1043-1053), (2016).
- William C Eberhardt, Brendan F Wakefield, Christin T Murphy, Caroline Casey, Yousef Shakhsheer, Benton H Calhoun and Colleen Reichmuth, Development of an artificial sensor for hydrodynamic detection inspired by a seal’s whisker array, Bioinspiration & Biomimetics, 11, 5, (056011), (2016).
- Morgane Viviant, Tiphaine Jeanniard‐du‐Dot, Pascal Monestiez, Matthieu Authier, Christophe Guinet and Daniel Costa, Bottom time does not always predict prey encounter rate in Antarctic fur seals, Functional Ecology, 30, 11, (1834-1844), (2016).
- Robyn A. Grant and Kendra P. Arkley, Matched Filtering in Active Whisker Touch, The Ecology of Animal Senses, 10.1007/978-3-319-25492-0_3, (59-82), (2015).
- Annalisa Berta, James L. Sumich and Kit M. Kovacs, Integumentary and Sensory Systems, Marine Mammals, 10.1016/B978-0-12-397002-2.00007-7, (169-210), (2015).
- N. Erdsack, G. Dehnhardt, M. Witt, A. Wree, U. Siebert and W. Hanke, Unique fur and skin structure in harbour seals (Phoca vitulina)--thermal insulation, drag reduction, or both?, Journal of The Royal Society Interface, 12, 104, (20141206), (2015).
- Summer E. Drake, Samuel D. CRISH, John C. George, Raphaella Stimmelmayr and J.G.M. Thewissen, Sensory Hairs in the Bowhead Whale, alaena mysticetus (Cetacea, Mammalia), The Anatomical Record, 298, 7, (1327-1335), (2015).
- Kristen A. Mcgovern, christopher D. Marshall and Randall W. Davis, Are Vibrissae Viable Sensory Structures for Prey Capture in Northern Elephant Seals, irounga angustirostris?, The Anatomical Record, 298, 4, (750-760), (2014).
- Nicola Erdsack, Guido Dehnhardt and Wolf Hanke, Thermoregulation of the vibrissal system in harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) and Cape fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus), Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 452, (111), (2014).
- Christopher D. Marshall, Kelly Rozas, Brian Kot and Verena A. Gill, Innervation patterns of sea otter (Enhydra lutris) mystacial follicle-sinus complexes, Frontiers in Neuroanatomy, 8, (2014).
- Alyx O. Milne and Robyn A. Grant, Characterisation of whisker control in the California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) during a complex, dynamic sensorimotor task, Journal of Comparative Physiology A, 200, 10, (871), (2014).
- Christin T. Murphy, William C. Eberhardt, Benton H. Calhoun, Kenneth A. Mann, David A. Mann and Miguel Maravall, Effect of Angle on Flow-Induced Vibrations of Pinniped Vibrissae, PLoS ONE, 8, 7, (e69872), (2013).
- Robyn Grant, Sven Wieskotten, Nina Wengst, Tony Prescott and Guido Dehnhardt, Vibrissal touch sensing in the harbor seal (Phoca vitulina): how do seals judge size?, Journal of Comparative Physiology A, 199, 6, (521), (2013).
- Carly C. Ginter, Thomas J. DeWitt, Frank E. Fish, Christopher D. Marshall and Thomas Wennekers, Fused Traditional and Geometric Morphometrics Demonstrate Pinniped Whisker Diversity, PLoS ONE, 7, 4, (e34481), (2012).
- Nele Gläser, Sven Wieskotten, Christian Otter, Guido Dehnhardt and Wolf Hanke, Hydrodynamic trail following in a California sea lion (Zalophus californianus), Journal of Comparative Physiology A, 197, 2, (141), (2011).
- L. Miersch, W. Hanke, S. Wieskotten, F. D. Hanke, J. Oeffner, A. Leder, M. Brede, M. Witte and G. Dehnhardt, Flow sensing by pinniped whiskers, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 366, 1581, (3077), (2011).
- Delphine Benoit, Yvan Simard, Jacques Gagné, Maxime Geoffroy and Louis Fortier, From polar night to midnight sun: photoperiod, seal predation, and the diel vertical migrations of polar cod (Boreogadus saida) under landfast ice in the Arctic Ocean, Polar Biology, 33, 11, (1505), (2010).
- Christopher D. Marshall, Feeding Morphology, Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals, 10.1016/B978-0-12-373553-9.00098-5, (406-414), (2009).
- Anni Rautio, Marja Niemi, Mervi Kunnasranta, Ismo J. Holopainen and Heikki Hyvärinen, Vocal repertoire of the Saimaa ringed seal (Phoca hispida saimensis) during the breeding season, Marine Mammal Science, 25, 4, (920-930), (2009).
- C. R. Harington, THE EVOLUTION OF ARCTIC MARINE MAMMALS, Ecological Applications, 18, sp2, (S23-S40), (2008).
- J.I. Johnson and R.L. Reed, Specialized Somatosensory Systems, The Senses: A Comprehensive Reference, 10.1016/B978-012370880-9.00361-3, (331-353), (2008).
- Diana K. Sarko, Roger L. Reep, Joseph E. Mazurkiewicz and Frank L. Rice, Adaptations in the structure and innervation of follicle‐sinus complexes to an aquatic environment as seen in the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris), Journal of Comparative Neurology, 504, 3, (217-237), (2007).
- Christopher D. Marshall, Heidi Amin, Kit M. Kovacs and Christian Lydersen, Microstructure and innervation of the mystacial vibrissal follicle‐sinus complex in bearded seals, Erignathus barbatus (Pinnipedia: Phocidae), The Anatomical Record Part A: Discoveries in Molecular, Cellular, and Evolutionary Biology, 288A, 1, (13-25), (2005).
- Annalisa Berta, James L. Sumich, Kit M. Kovacs, Pieter Arend Folkens and Peter J. Adam, Integumentary and Sensory Systems, Marine Mammals, 10.1016/B978-012088552-7/50008-4, (132-II), (2006).
- Danielle K. Greaves, Michael O. Hammill, Jim D. Eddington, Darcy Pettipas and Jason F. Schreer, GROWTH RATE AND SHEDDING OF VIBRISSAE IN THE GRAY SEAL, HALICHOERUS GRYPUS: A CAUTIONARY NOTE FOR STABLE ISOTOPE DIET ANALYSIS, Marine Mammal Science, 20, 2, (296-304), (2006).
- Dirk R Neumann and Wolfgang W Schmahl, Red-Pelaged Harbour Seals, in Humboldt County, California: why some Seals Rust, Marine Pollution Bulletin, 38, 12, (1177), (1999).
- Guido Dehnhardt, Heikki Hyvärinen, Anne Palviainen and Gertrud Klauer, Structure and innervation of the vibrissal follicle‐sinus complex in the Australian water rat, Hydromys chrysogaster, Journal of Comparative Neurology, 411, 4, (550-562), (1999).
- C. D. Marshall, G. D. Huth, V. M. Edmonds, D. L. Halin and R. L. Reep, PREHENSILE USE OF PERIORAL BRISTLES DURING FEEDING AND ASSOCIATED BEHAVIORS OF THE FLORIDA MANATEE (TRICHECHUS MANATUS LATIROSTRIS), Marine Mammal Science, 14, 2, (274-289), (2006).
- Mervi Kunnasranta, Heikki Hyvärinen and Jorma Sorjonen, UNDERWATER VOCALIZATIONS OF LADOGA RINGED SEALS (PHOCA HISPIDA LADOGENSIS NORDQ.) IN SUMMERTIME, Marine Mammal Science, 12, 4, (611-618), (2006).
- Guido Dehnhardt and Gerti Dücker, Tactual discrimination of size and shape by a California sea lion (Zalophus californianus), Animal Learning & Behavior, 24, 4, (366), (1996).
- Brendan P. Kelly and Douglas Wartzok, Ringed seal diving behavior in the breeding season, Canadian Journal of Zoology, 74, 8, (1547), (1996).
- Reijo Käkelä and Heikki Hyvärinen, Fatty acid composition of fats around the mystacial and superciliary vibrissae differs from that of blubber in the saimaa ringed seal (Phoca hispida saimensis), Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B: Comparative Biochemistry, 105, 3-4, (547), (1993).
- Justin A. Crawford, Kathryn J. Frost, Lori T. Quakenbush and Alex Whiting, Seasonal and diel differences in dive and haul-out behavior of adult and subadult ringed seals (Pusa hispida) in the Bering and Chukchi seas, Polar Biology, 10.1007/s00300-018-2399-x, (2018).




