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Related Concept Videos

The Fossil Record02:56

The Fossil Record

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The fossil record documents only a small fraction of all organisms that have ever inhabited Earth. Fossilization is a rare process, and most organisms never become fossils. Moreover, the fossil record only exhibits fossils that have been discovered. Nevertheless, sedimentary rock fossils of long-lived, abundant, hard-bodied organisms dominate the fossil record. These fossils offer valuable information, such as an organism's physical form, behavior, and age. Studying the fossil record helps...
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Evolution shapes the features of organisms over time, ensuring that they are suited for the environments in which they live. Sometimes, selection pressure leads to the rise of similar but unrelated adaptations in organisms with no recent common ancestors, a process known as convergent evolution.
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Scientists record evolutionary history by analyzing fossil, morphological, and genetic data. The fossil record documents the history of life on Earth and provides evidence for evolution. However, both fossil and living organisms offer evidence that outlines Earth’s evolutionary history.
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The Evidence for Evolution02:55

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Genetic variations accumulating within populations over generations give rise to biological evolution. Evolutionary changes can result in the formation of novel varieties and entire new species. These changes are responsible for the diverse forms of life inhabiting the planet. The evidence for evolution suggests that all living organisms descended from common ancestors.
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Hair cells are the sensory receptors of the auditory system—they transduce mechanical sound waves into electrical energy that the nervous system can understand. Hair cells are located in the organ of Corti within the cochlea of the inner ear, between the basilar and tectorial membranes. The actual sensory receptors are called inner hair cells. The outer hair cells serve other functions, such as sound amplification in the cochlea, and are not discussed in detail here.
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The human ear cannot distinguish between two sources of sound if they happen to reach within a specific time interval, typically 0.1 seconds apart. More than this, and they are perceived as separate sources.
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Evolution: Fossil Ears and Underwater Sonar.

Olivier Lambert1

  • 1D.O. Terre et Histoire de la Vie, Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique, 29 rue Vautier, Brussels, 1000, Belgium.

Current Biology : CB
|August 25, 2016
PubMed
Summary

Whale evolution involved developing sonar and high-frequency hearing. Fossil inner ear bones reveal a gradual development of underwater echolocation in ancient toothed whales.

Area of Science:

  • Paleontology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Bioacoustics

Background:

  • The evolution of echolocation in toothed whales (Odontoceti) is a significant event in marine mammal history.
  • Understanding the sensory adaptations that enabled underwater navigation and hunting is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the evolutionary steps leading to the development of underwater echolocation in archaic toothed whales.
  • To analyze fossil evidence for insights into the emergence of high-frequency hearing and sonar capabilities.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of fossilized inner ear bones from an archaic toothed whale species.
  • Comparative anatomical studies of fossil and extant cetacean ear structures.
  • Paleontological reconstruction of auditory capabilities.

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Main Results:

  • Fossil evidence indicates a stepwise development of the inner ear structures necessary for echolocation.
  • Specific anatomical features suggest a gradual enhancement of high-frequency hearing sensitivity.
  • These findings provide a fossil-based timeline for the emergence of sonar in whale evolution.

Conclusions:

  • The evolution of sonar and high-frequency hearing in whales was a gradual process.
  • Fossilized inner ear bones offer critical evidence for understanding the emergence of underwater echolocation.
  • This study illuminates a key evolutionary innovation in the history of cetaceans.