The effect of signal duration on the underwater detection thresholds of a harbor porpoise (<i>Phocoena phocoena</i>) for single frequency-modulated tonal signals between 0.25 and 160 kHz

Kastelein, Ronald A.; Hoek, Lean; Jong, Christ A. F. de; Wensveen, Paul J.

doi:10.1121/1.3493435

Cited by 98 publications

(148 citation statements)

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“…However, the German regulation deviates from Southall et al (2007) on how to deal with the frequency spectrum of the noise (frequency weighting). The issue of frequency weighting is important, as there is a mismatch between the frequency range of best hearing in porpoises (approximately 10 to 150 kHz; Kastelein et al 2010) and the power spectrum of pile-driving sounds (most energy below 1 kHz; Tougaard et al 2009, Bailey et al 2010. Southall et al (2007) proposed the so-called M-weighting (M hf for high frequency cetaceans such as porpoises), which is a very wide weighting function (see Fig.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bubble curtains attenuate noise from offshore wind farm construction and reduce temporary habitat loss for harbour porpoises

Dähne¹,

Tougaard²,

Carstensen³

et al. 2017

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Effects of constructing the DanTysk offshore wind farm (German Bight, 80 turbines, 6 m diameter foundations) were studied by passive acoustic monitoring of pile-driving noise and harbour porpoise Phocoena phocoena echolocation. An acoustic deterrence device (seal scarer) was used to protect porpoises from hearing loss and bubble curtains were used to attenuate the pile-driving noise. Porpoise occurrence, quantified by echolocation signals, decreased when the seal scarer was engaged, during pile driving and up to 5 h after pile driving stopped. This effect extended out to 12 km, less than the 18−25 km reported from other pile drivings performed without bubble curtains. The bubble curtains thus effectively reduced the temporary habitat loss and risk of hearing loss. The 2 bubble curtains each attenuated the noise by between 7 and 10 dB, when used separately, and 12 dB when used together. Attenuation was most pronounced above 1 kHz, where the pile-driving noise at larger distances was comparable to or lower than ambient noise. This suggests that noise regulation should be based on frequency-weighted sound levels in addition to broadband levels, to assure that mitigation measures are effective in reducing impact on animals and not only in fulfilling legal requirements. The strong reaction to the seal scarer raises concern that it may surpass the reactions to the pile-driving noise itself, when operating with bubble curtains, and calls for a re-evaluation of the specifications of seal scarer sounds.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bubble curtains attenuate noise from offshore wind farm construction and reduce temporary habitat loss for harbour porpoises

Dähne¹,

Tougaard²,

Carstensen³

et al. 2017

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…His body mass was around 38 kg, his body length around 142 cm, and his girth at axilla around 75 cm. His hearing was assumed to be representative of animals his species and age because hearing data obtained from him shortly prior to the present study were similar to those from other young male harbor porpoises (Kastelein et al, 2009(Kastelein et al, , 2010. The animal received between 2.3 and 3.0 kg of thawed fish/d, equally divided over four meals.…”

Section: Study Animalmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The study was conducted with only one animal, but his hearing was very similar to that of another male harbor porpoise of the same age (Kastelein et al, 2009) and to that of another male (Kastelein et al, 2002(Kastelein et al, , 2010, and so, it was likely to be representative for harbor porpoises. After each session, the animal's behavior immediately returned to normal.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These sounds were of durations longer than the integration time of harbor porpoise hearing (Kastelein et al, 2010). Responses to impulsive sounds may be different as was seen in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and a beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas; Finneran et al, 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Data on the effects of noise on the harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) are of particular interest because it has a wide distribution area in the northern hemisphere, the most acute hearing so far quantified in a marine mammal species, and functional hearing over a very wide frequency range (Kastelein et al, 2002(Kastelein et al, , 2009(Kastelein et al, , 2010. The harbor porpoise detection threshold sound exposure level (SEL) for an impulsive sound has been established (Kastelein et al, 2012b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Brief Behavioral Response Threshold Level of a Harbor Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) to an Impulsive Sound

Kastelein¹

2013

Aquat Mamm

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Underwater impulsive sounds may affect the behavior of harbor porpoises within a certain distance from the sound source. To determine the 50% threshold received sound exposure level (SEL) of an impulsive sound that causes a brief behavioral response (a sudden change in swimming speed and/ or direction, similar to a startle response) in harbor porpoises, a male harbor porpoise was exposed once every 3 min to a single impulsive sound: a synthetic exponential pulse with a 5 ms time constant, reproduced by an underwater loudspeaker in a pool (resulting in a signal duration of 10 ms). The sound was transmitted at seven source levels, which were expected to cause brief responses in 10 to 90% of exposures. During each transmission, the harbor porpoise's behavior was observed, and the presence or absence of a brief response was recorded. A 50% brief response rate was observed at a received SEL of 92 dB re 1 µPa 2 s, and a zeroto-peak sound pressure level of 122 dB re 1 µPa. The present study suggests that a single impulsive sound as used in this study does not cause a brief response in harbor porpoises at SELs below around 65 dB re 1 µPa 2 s. The duration and spectrum of impulsive sounds change with distance to the sound source, and such changes may affect the responses of wild harbor porpoises.

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Echolocation activity of harbour porpoises, Phocoena phocoena, shows seasonal artificial reef attraction despite elevated noise levels close to oil and gas platforms

Clausen

Teilmann

Wisniewska

et al. 2021

Ecol Sol and Evidence

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1. Harbour porpoises frequently alter their behaviour in response to underwater sound from shipping, seismic surveys, drilling and marine renewables. Less well understood is the response of porpoises to sounds emitted from oil and gas (O&G) platforms during routine operations. 2. The responses are not easily predicted as platforms can act simultaneously and to varying degree as a source of disturbance through noise and attraction through an artificial reef effect with increased prey abundance and diversity. 3. To investigate the presence and feeding behaviour of harbour porpoises around platforms, autonomous acoustic loggers were placed for up to 2 years, at 21 stations 0-25.6 km from the largest platform in the Danish North Sea. 4. Harbour porpoises were detected at all distances year round in two distinct seasonal activity patterns. During July-January, porpoises were attracted to the platform as indicated by high foraging activity within 800 m of the platform. Echolocation activity levels were up to twofold higher than those observed at 3.2-9.6 km from the platform. 5. Similar high echolocation activity was observed 200 m from neighbouring offshore installations located within 15 km, regardless of their size, during May-July. 6. This study shows that porpoises may be attracted to offshore O&G platforms despite confirmed elevated underwater noise and are likely exploiting higher prey abundance in the vicinity of such structures. This is possibly due to increased prey availability created by the combined effect of the artificial reef formed by the underwater structure and the local protected area around all platforms where fishery is banned. 7. Hard substrate and untouched seabed are rare and valuable habitats to many organisms in heavily trawled waters like the North Sea, and the ecological importance of these structures should be considered in the development of decommissioning strategies. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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The effect of signal duration on the underwater detection thresholds of a harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) for single frequency-modulated tonal signals between 0.25 and 160 kHz

Cited by 98 publications

References 26 publications

Bubble curtains attenuate noise from offshore wind farm construction and reduce temporary habitat loss for harbour porpoises

Bubble curtains attenuate noise from offshore wind farm construction and reduce temporary habitat loss for harbour porpoises

Brief Behavioral Response Threshold Level of a Harbor Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) to an Impulsive Sound

Echolocation activity of harbour porpoises, Phocoena phocoena, shows seasonal artificial reef attraction despite elevated noise levels close to oil and gas platforms

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