Communicating amidst the noise: modeling the aggregate influence of ambient and vessel noise on baleen whale communication space in a national marine sanctuary

Cholewiak, Danielle; Clark, Christopher W.; Ponirakis, Dimitri; Frankel, Adam S.; Hatch, Leila T.; Risch, Denise; Stanistreet, Joy E.; Thompson, Michael; Vu, Elizabeth; Parijs, Sofie M. Van

doi:10.3354/esr00875

Cited by 70 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…There is potential for disturbance of breeding and resting behavior, masking of communication, and even physiological damage if in close proximity or with long exposures of cetaceans to loud anthropogenic noises. Numerous studies on a variety of cetacean species globally have documented behavioral responses, such as changes in travel routes and distribution, and shifts in vocal display behavior to seismic airguns, echo sounders, navy sonar and ship noise (Nowacek et al, 2007;Castellote et al, 2012;Cerchio et al, 2014;Cholewiak et al, 2018). It has also been shown that noise from petroleum E&P activities and vessel traffic contributes significantly to ambient noise within the communication bandwidth of baleen whales, likely acting to mask communication and breeding displays (Clark et al, 2009;Cholewiak et al, 2018).…”

Section: Petroleum Exploration and Production (Eandp)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Global Distribution of Omura’s Whales (Balaenoptera omurai) and Assessment of Range-Wide Threats

2019

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When the Omura's whale (Balaenoptera omurai) was first described in 2003, it was known from only three locations: the southern Sea of Japan, and the vicinities of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Solomon Islands. Work over the following decade suggested a range limited to the eastern Indo-Pacific, but more recent discoveries in the western Indian Ocean and Atlantic Ocean suggested a more widespread range than previously thought. Here we use all available sources of information, including published papers, unpublished reports, and internet-based accounts, substantiated through genetic, morphological, photographic and acoustic documentation, to compile accounts of Omura's whales globally. Reports increased precipitously since 2015 after publication of the first detailed external description of the species, reflecting the impact of the recently elevated awareness of the species. We report 161 accounts from 95 locales in the waters of 21 range states, and found that the species is widely distributed in primarily tropical and warm-temperate locations. Currently it is known from all ocean basins with the exception of the central and eastern Pacific. The majority of accounts remain in the eastern Indo-Pacific suggesting a potentially recent range expansion from this region. There is a strong tendency toward a coastal and neritic distribution, although there are also several pelagic records. A predominantly near-coastal distribution places Omura's whale at risk from anthropogenic activities throughout its range, and its tropical distribution in often remote and poorly monitored areas makes adequately documenting and assessing threats challenging. We assess documented threats in light of the reported species' range, and found threats from, at minimum, ship strikes, fisheries bycatch and entanglement, local directed hunting, petroleum exploration (seismic surveys), and coastal industrial development. Current evidence indicates that at least some populations are non-migratory with local, potentially restricted ranges. Furthermore, there is low genetic diversity documented throughout its global distribution. Given the species may be characterized by small local populations, it may be particularly vulnerable to impacts from existing regional anthropogenic threats. We recommend that focused work be conducted to locate and study local populations, assess potential population isolation, and determine conservation status and specific anthropogenic threats across the species' range.

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Section: Petroleum Exploration and Production (Eandp)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Global Distribution of Omura’s Whales (Balaenoptera omurai) and Assessment of Range-Wide Threats

2019

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“…It remains to be seen whether the adjustments in calling behavior observed in this study are indicative of a compensatory strategy to overcome masking, or whether the reduction in calling effort is a result of missed cues from other vocalizing whales. In the absence of vocal compensation, increased ambient noise levels substantially reduce the active communication space of a calling animal (Cholewiak et al 2018, Gabriele et al 2018. Even relatively short periods of high noise, like those observed during the twice-daily cruise ship passages, may 'halt the conversation' to unknown effect.…”

Section: Probability Of Occurrencementioning

confidence: 99%

Humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae alter calling behavior in response to natural sounds and vessel noise

Fournet¹,

Matthews²,

Gabriele³

et al. 2018

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Acoustically adept species in the marine environment have to contend with complex and highly variable soundscapes. In the ocean today, sounds from human sources contribute substantially to the underwater acoustic environment. We used a 4-element hydrophone array in Glacier Bay National Park to (1) identify primary drivers of ambient sound in this region, (2) investigate whether humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae exhibit a Lombard response in response to ambient noise, and (3) investigate whether humpback whales adjust their calling activity in response to naturally occurring and vessel-generated sounds. We found that cruise ships and tour boats, roaring harbor seals Phoca vitulina, and weather events were primary drivers of ambient sound levels, and that they varied both seasonally and diurnally. As ambient sound levels increased, humpback whales responded by increasing the source levels of their calls (nonsong vocalizations) by 0.81 dB (95% CI = 0.79−0.90) for every 1 dB increase in ambient sound. There was no evidence that the magnitude of the observed response differed between natural and man-made sounds. We also found that the probability of a humpback whale calling in the survey area decreased by 9% for every 1 dB increase in ambient sound. Controlling for ambient sound levels, the probability of a humpback whale calling in the survey area was 31−45% lower when vessel noise contributed to the soundscape than when only natural sounds were present.

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“…A decrease in communication range as a result of increased levels of ship noise has also been modeled for Bryde's (Balaenoptera edeni), fin (Balaenoptera physalus), humpback, and minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) Cholewiak et al, 2018;Gabriele et al, 2018;Putland et al, 2018). The Lombard effect comprises changes in the spectral features of vocalizations (i.e., in frequency and level) and in vocalization rates, in order to compensate for masking (Lombard, 1911).…”

Section: Mysticetesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effects of Ship Noise on Marine Mammals—A Review

et al. 2019

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The number of marine watercraft is on the rise-from private boats in coastal areas to commercial ships crossing oceans. A concomitant increase in underwater noise has been reported in several regions around the globe. Given the important role sound plays in the life functions of marine mammals, research on the potential effects of vessel noise has grown-in particular since the year 2000. We provide an overview of this literature, showing that studies have been patchy in terms of their coverage of species, habitats, vessel types, and types of impact investigated. The documented effects include behavioral and acoustic responses, auditory masking, and stress. We identify knowledge gaps: There appears a bias to more easily accessible species (i.e., bottlenose dolphins and humpback whales), whereas there is a paucity of literature addressing vessel noise impacts on river dolphins, even though some of these species experience chronic noise from boats. Similarly, little is known about the potential effects of ship noise on pelagic and deep-diving marine mammals, even though ship noise is focused in a downward direction, reaching great depth at little acoustic loss and potentially coupling into sound propagation channels in which sound may transmit over long ranges. We explain the fundamental concepts involved in the generation and propagation of vessel noise and point out common problems with both physics and biology: Recordings of ship noise might be affected by unidentified artifacts, and noise exposure can be both under-and over-estimated by tens of decibel if the local sound propagation conditions are not considered. The lack of anthropogenic (e.g., different vessel types), environmental (e.g., different sea states or presence/absence of prey), and biological (e.g., different demographics) controls is a common problem, as is a lack of understanding what constitutes the 'normal' range of behaviors. Last but not least, the biological significance of observed responses is mostly unknown. Moving forward, standards on study design, data analysis, and reporting are badly needed so that results are comparable (across space and time) and so that data can be synthesized to address the grand unknowns: the role of context and the consequences of chronic exposures.

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Communicating amidst the noise: modeling the aggregate influence of ambient and vessel noise on baleen whale communication space in a national marine sanctuary

Cited by 70 publications

References 58 publications

Global Distribution of Omura’s Whales (Balaenoptera omurai) and Assessment of Range-Wide Threats

Global Distribution of Omura’s Whales (Balaenoptera omurai) and Assessment of Range-Wide Threats

Humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae alter calling behavior in response to natural sounds and vessel noise

The Effects of Ship Noise on Marine Mammals—A Review

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