Q&A with Dr. Manuel Castellote: Listening to whales

Dr. Manuel Castellote shares his story and experiences studying 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 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 drawn to whales and dolphins due to their curiosity and the fact that sound is their dominant sense.

According to Dr. Castellote,

For marine mammals, the dominant sense is sound, which makes sense because underwater visibility is often limited.

He explains that sound travels more easily and farther in water because it is denser than air.

Dr. Castellote notes that

if I shout into the air, the sound becomes fainter the farther it travels. But in the water, that fade is much milder.

Author's summary: Dr. Manuel Castellote discusses his experiences studying whales and their use of sound.

Oceana — 2025-10-15