Blue whales respond to simulated mid-frequency military sonar

Goldbogen, Jeremy A.; Southall, Brandon L.; DeRuiter, Stacy L.; Calambokidis, John; Friedlaender, Ari S.; Hazen, Elliott L.; Falcone, Erin A.; Schorr, Gregory S.; Douglas, Annie B.; Moretti, David; Kyburg, Chris; McKenna, Megan F.; Tyack, Peter L.

doi:10.1098/rspb.2013.0657

Cited by 175 publications

(249 citation statements)

References 42 publications

(65 reference statements)

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“…We have found that behaviours contributing to cardiac anomalies when submerged (elevated levels of physical exertion, deep-diving and rapid ascent from depth) are remarkably similar for terrestrial 18,[24][25][26][27] and marine (Figs 1-4) mammals. Coincidentally, these also comprise the suite of behaviours displayed during the flight response of beaked whales 34 and blue whales 35 exposed to shipping noise and midfrequency sonars. Admittedly, the physiological repercussions of the flight responses are currently unknown.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exercise at depth alters bradycardia and incidence of cardiac anomalies in deep-diving marine mammals

et al. 2015

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Unlike their terrestrial ancestors, marine mammals routinely confront extreme physiological and physical challenges while breath-holding and pursuing prey at depth. To determine how cetaceans and pinnipeds accomplish deep-sea chases, we deployed animal-borne instruments that recorded high-resolution electrocardiograms, behaviour and flipper accelerations of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) diving from the surface to 4200 m. Here we report that both exercise and depth alter the bradycardia associated with the dive response, with the greatest impacts at depths inducing lung collapse. Unexpectedly, cardiac arrhythmias occurred in 473% of deep, aerobic dives, which we attribute to the interplay between sympathetic and parasympathetic drivers for exercise and diving, respectively. Such marked cardiac variability alters the common view of a stereotypic 'dive reflex' in diving mammals. It also suggests the persistence of ancestral terrestrial traits in cardiac function that may help explain the unique sensitivity of some deep-diving marine mammals to anthropogenic disturbances.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exercise at depth alters bradycardia and incidence of cardiac anomalies in deep-diving marine mammals

et al. 2015

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“…2014), and cause displacements from productive habitats (Goldbogen et al. 2013). There is also evidence of a link between military sonar exercises and atypical mass strandings of cetaceans (Jepson et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extrapolating cetacean densities to quantitatively assess human impacts on populations in the high seas

Mannocci

Roberts

Miller

et al. 2017

Conservation Biology

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As human activities expand beyond national jurisdictions to the high seas, there is an increasing need to consider anthropogenic impacts to species inhabiting these waters. The current scarcity of scientific observations of cetaceans in the high seas impedes the assessment of population‐level impacts of these activities. We developed plausible density estimates to facilitate a quantitative assessment of anthropogenic impacts on cetacean populations in these waters. Our study region extended from a well‐surveyed region within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone into a large region of the western North Atlantic sparsely surveyed for cetaceans. We modeled densities of 15 cetacean taxa with available line transect survey data and habitat covariates and extrapolated predictions to sparsely surveyed regions. We formulated models to reduce the extent of extrapolation beyond covariate ranges, and constrained them to model simple and generalizable relationships. To evaluate confidence in the predictions, we mapped where predictions were made outside sampled covariate ranges, examined alternate models, and compared predicted densities with maps of sightings from sources that could not be integrated into our models. Confidence levels in model results depended on the taxon and geographic area and highlighted the need for additional surveying in environmentally distinct areas. With application of necessary caution, our density estimates can inform management needs in the high seas, such as the quantification of potential cetacean interactions with military training exercises, shipping, fisheries, and deep‐sea mining and be used to delineate areas of special biological significance in international waters. Our approach is generally applicable to other marine taxa and geographic regions for which management will be implemented but data are sparse.

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“…The only potentially lethal noise-related mechanism for a baleen whale are very intense noises associated with blasting in close proximity (Ketten 1992). This could injure the animal and cause haemorrhage or provoke panic, disorientation and favour entrapment (not yet described for baleen whales, Goldbogen et al 2013). Although there was no evidence of bony damage or micro-fracture of the one examined periotic, this cannot be excluded for the other individuals.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Although there was no evidence of bony damage or micro-fracture of the one examined periotic, this cannot be excluded for the other individuals. Any other noise-related damage could neither be ruled out due to the decomposition of the soft tissue structures, nevertheless there is no evidence that for baleen sonar and ground noise could trigger more than non-lethal behavioural and temporary effects (Goldbogen et al 2013). The strongest argument against this hypothesis is that whales died synchronously along hundreds of kilometres of shore line and at least five different sources of carcasses were identified (see discussion on drift models), which could only be explained by a large number of (MacKenzie & Harwood, 2014), an important prey of sei whales (Matthews, 1932).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Largest baleen whale mass mortality during strong El Niño event is likely related to harmful toxic algal bloom

Häussermann

Beddington

Cassis

et al. 2017

Preprint

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While large mass mortality events (MMEs) are well known for toothed whales, they have been rare in baleen whales due to their less gregarious behaviour. Although in most cases the cause of mortality has not been conclusively identified, some baleen whale mortality events have been linked to bio-oceanographic conditions, such as harmful algal blooms (HABs). In southern Chile, HABs can be triggered by the ocean-atmosphere phenomenon El Niño. The frequency of the strongest El Niño events is increasing due to climate change. In March 2015, by far the largest reported mass mortality of baleen whales took place in a gulf in southern Chile. Here we show that the synchronous death of at least 343, primarily sei, whales can be attributed to HABs during a building El Niño. Although considered an oceanic species, the sei whales died while feeding near to shore in previously unknown large aggregations. This provides evidence of new feeding grounds for the species. The combination of older and newer remains of whales in the same area indicate that MMEs have occurred more than once in recent years. Large HABs and reports of marine mammal MMEs along the north-east Pacific coast may indicate similar processes in both hemispheres. Increasing MMEs through HABs may become a serious concern in the conservation of endangered whale species.

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Blue whales respond to simulated mid-frequency military sonar

Cited by 175 publications

References 42 publications

Exercise at depth alters bradycardia and incidence of cardiac anomalies in deep-diving marine mammals

Exercise at depth alters bradycardia and incidence of cardiac anomalies in deep-diving marine mammals

Extrapolating cetacean densities to quantitatively assess human impacts on populations in the high seas

Largest baleen whale mass mortality during strong El Niño event is likely related to harmful toxic algal bloom

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