Title
High thresholds for avoidance of sonar by free-ranging long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas)
Author
Antunes, R.
Kvadsheim, P.H.
Lam, F.P.A.
Tyack, P.L.
Thomas, L.
Wensveen, P.J.
Miller, P.J.O.
Publication year
2014
Abstract
The potential effects of exposing marine mammals to military sonar is a current concern. Dose-response relationships are useful for predicting potential environmental impacts of specific operations. To reveal behavioral response thresholds of exposure to sonar, we conducted 18 exposure/control approaches to 6 long-finned pilot whales. Source level and proximity of sonar transmitting one of two frequency bands (1-2kHz and 6-7kHz) were increased during exposure sessions. The 2-dimensional movement tracks were analyzed using a changepoint method to identify the avoidance response thresholds which were used to estimate dose-response relationships. No support for an effect of sonar frequency or previous exposures on the probability of response was found. Estimated response thresholds at which 50% of population show avoidance (SPLmax=170dB re 1μPa, SELcum=173dB re 1μPa2s) were higher than previously found for other cetaceans. The US Navy currently uses a generic dose-response relationship to predict the responses of cetaceans to naval active sonar, which has been found to underestimate behavioural impacts on killer whales and beaked whales. The navy curve appears to match more closely our results with long-finned pilot whales, though it might underestimate the probability of avoidance for pilot-whales at long distances from sonar sources. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.
Subject
Physics & Electronics
AS - Acoustics & Sonar
TS - Technical Sciences
Defence Research
Marine
Defence, Safety and Security
Dose-response
Marine mammals
Noise
Pilot-whales
Sonar
Environmental impact
Avoidance response
Behavioral response
Dose response
Sonar
Whales
Animal behavior
Controlled study
Killer whales
Long finned pilot whale
Navy
Prediction
Threshold
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http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:1c27893f-3bf8-4a8a-99a6-03b0ff249e46
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.03.056
TNO identifier
507081
Source
Marine Pollution Bulletin, 83 (1), 165-180
Document type
article