Researchers Develop Hearing Test for Endangered Sea Turtle

Kemp's ridley turtles face threats from human activity in their coastal habitats.

Feb. 3, 2026 at 10:15pm

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Researchers have developed a new hearing test to evaluate the sensitivity of Kemp's ridley sea turtles, one of the most endangered sea turtle species. The turtles face threats from fishing, pollution, and vessel collisions in their coastal habitats along the Gulf and East coasts of North America. The study found that the turtles are most sensitive to low-frequency sounds, which overlap with the noise produced by ships and other industrial activities in their environment.

Why it matters

Understanding the hearing range of Kemp's ridley turtles is crucial for assessing the potential impacts of human-caused noise on this endangered species. The findings highlight the need for further monitoring and targeted studies to determine how noise pollution may be affecting sea turtle populations and to support evidence-based management approaches that balance human activities with protecting sensitive coastal habitats.

The details

Researchers from Duke University, NOAA, and North Carolina State University placed noninvasive sensors on the heads of Kemp's ridley turtles to measure the electrical signals transmitted along their auditory nerves. They played sounds ranging from 50 hertz to 1,600 hertz and found that the turtles could hear best at around 300 hertz, with their hearing declining at higher frequencies. This indicates that the turtles are most sensitive to the low-frequency sounds produced by ships and other industrial machinery in their coastal environments.

  • The study was published on February 3, 2026 in the journal JASA.

The players

Charles Muirhead

The lead author of the study and a researcher at the Duke University Marine Laboratory.

Kemp's ridley sea turtles

One of the most endangered species of sea turtles, residing along the east and Gulf coasts of North America.

Duke University Marine Laboratory

The research institution where the study was conducted.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

A government agency that collaborated on the study.

North Carolina State University

Another institution that collaborated on the study.

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What they’re saying

“They face a variety of threats, including accidental capture in fishing gear, vessel strikes, ingestion of plastic debris, and degradation of nesting beaches and coastal habitat.”

— Charles Muirhead, Researcher (JASA)

“Our findings indicate that the turtles are most sensitive in the same low-frequency band where much industrial and vessel noise occurs.”

— Charles Muirhead, Researcher (JASA)

“These efforts will help refine our understanding of how human-caused noise interacts with sea turtle sensory systems. They will also support evidence-based management approaches aimed at minimizing unintended impacts while balancing human activities in coastal and offshore waters.”

— Charles Muirhead, Researcher (JASA)

What’s next

The researchers plan to study how sea turtles respond to sounds in real environmental conditions and understand the relationship between measured sound signals and the physical effects of noise on turtles.

The takeaway

This study highlights the need to better understand the impacts of human-caused noise pollution on endangered sea turtle species like the Kemp's ridley. The findings will help inform evidence-based management approaches to protect sensitive coastal habitats while balancing necessary human activities.