Editing Bioacoustics (section)

== Importance ==
In the terrestrial environment, animals often use light for sensing distance, since light propagates well through air. Underwater sunlight only reaches to tens of meters depth. However, sound propagates readily through water and across considerable distances. Many marine animals can see well, but using hearing for communication, and sensing distance and location. Gauging the relative importance of audition versus vision in animals can be performed by comparing the number of [[Auditory Nerve|auditory]] and [[Optic nerve|optic nerves]]. 

Since the 1950s to 1960s, studies on dolphin echolocation behavior using high frequency click sounds revealed that many different marine mammal species make sounds, which can be used to detect and identify species under water. Much research in bioacoustics has been funded by [[naval]] research organizations, as biological sound sources can interfere with [[military]] uses underwater.<ref>{{Citation |last=Tyack |first=P. L. |title=Bioacoustics |date=2001-01-01 |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780123744739004367 |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Ocean Sciences (Second Edition) |pages=357–363 |editor-last=Steele |editor-first=John H. |place=Oxford |publisher=Academic Press |language=en |doi=10.1016/b978-012374473-9.00436-7 |isbn=978-0-12-374473-9 |access-date=2022-06-17|url-access=subscription }}</ref>