The effects of man-made noise on the behavior of marine animals

Myrberg, Arthur A.

doi:10.1016/0160-4120(90)90028-5

Cited by 75 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…The responses of animals to shipping and construction noise are therefore difficult to predict, and will also vary depending on species, individual, age, sex, prior experience and behavioural state (Myrberg 1990, Würsig & Evans 2001, Weilgart 2007.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Displacement responses of a mysticete, an adontocete, and a phacid seal to construction-related vessel traffic

Anderwald¹,

Brandecker²,

Coleman³

et al. 2013

Endang. Species. Res.

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Marine construction works often lead to temporary increases in vessel traffic, which, in addition to the construction activity itself, contribute to underwater ambient noise in the affected area and increase the risk of vessel collision for marine mammals. Using a 3 yr data set of cliff-based observations, we investigated whether the presence/absence of minke whales, bottlenose dolphins and grey seals varied with the overall number and type of vessels present during the construction of an underwater gas pipeline through a bay on the northwest coast of Ireland. Results from binary generalised estimation equations showed a positive relationship between the presence of bottlenose dolphins and the overall number of boats, as well as the number of construction vessels. However, the presence of the 2 taxa with higher hearing sensitivity at low frequencies -minke whales and grey seals -was negatively correlated with the total number of boats and the number of utility vessels (as well as the number of fishing boats in the case of minke whales). While bottlenose dolphins may have been attracted to either the vessels per se or high prey concentrations coinciding with construction activities, both minke whales and grey seals appear to have been displaced by high levels of vessel traffic, most likely due to noise disturbance. Careful consideration of mitigation measures, especially for taxa with low-frequency hearing, is therefore essential in the planning phase of offshore construction activities, which should also take local circumstances into account.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Displacement responses of a mysticete, an adontocete, and a phacid seal to construction-related vessel traffic

Anderwald¹,

Brandecker²,

Coleman³

et al. 2013

Endang. Species. Res.

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show abstract

“…In many species, a certain sound pressure level needs to be reached before the behaviour is affected, and some fish species do not show startle responses to sounds no matter how loud they are. Researchers have investigated the effects of specific sounds on the behaviour of marine fish species, and responses vary greatly (Moulton and Backus, 1955;Hawkins, 1986;Myrberg, 1990;Popper and Carlson, 1998;Luczkovich et al, 2000;Kastelein et al, 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Startle response of captive North Sea fish species to underwater tones between 0.1 and 64kHz

Kastelein¹,

Heul²,

Verboom³

et al. 2008

Marine Environmental Research

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“…Sounds from different sources provide them with information relevant for survival, e.g., finding mates and prey or avoiding predators. The natural environment of fishes, especially that of marine fishes (Knudsen et al 1948;Wenz 1962;Urick 1983;Myrberg 1990), but also freshwater habitats (Hawkins and Johnstone 1978;Rogers and Cox 1988;Lugli and Fine 2003), is characterized by a permanent background noise of abiotic (currents, rain, seismic events, coastal surf) and biotic (vocalizations of animals, photosynthesis) origin. In addition, the amount of man-made noise caused by ship and air traffic, hydroelectric power plants, or drilling is increasing.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hearing in Fishes under Noise Conditions

Wysocki

Ladich

2005

JARO

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Our current knowledge on sound detection in fishes is mainly based on data acquired under quiet laboratory conditions. However, it is important to relate auditory thresholds to background noise in order to determine the signal-detecting abilities of animals in the natural environment. We investigated the influence of two noise levels within the naturally occurring range on the auditory sensitivity of two hearing specialists (otophysines) and a hearing generalist. Audiograms of the goldfish Carassius auratus, the lined Raphael catfish Platydoras costatus and the pumpkinseed sunfish Lepomis gibbosus (hearing generalist) were determined between 200 and 4000 Hz (100Y800 Hz for L. gibbosus) under laboratory conditions and under continuous white noise by recording auditory evoked potentials (AEPs). Baseline thresholds showed greatest hearing sensitivity around 500 Hz in goldfish and catfish and at 100 Hz in the sunfish. Continuous white noise of 110 dB RMS elevated the thresholds by 15Y20 dB in C. auratus and by 4Y22 dB in P. costatus. White noise of 130 dB RMS elevated overall hearing thresholds significantly in the otophysines by 23Y44 dB. In the goldfish, threshold did not shift at 4 kHz. In contrast, auditory thresholds in the sunfish declined only at the higher noise level by 7Y11 dB. Our data show that the AEP recording technique is suitable for studying masking in fishes, and that the occurrence and degree of the threshold shift (masking) depend on the hearing sensitivity of fishes, the frequency, and noise levels tested. The results indicate that acoustic communication and orientation of fishes, in particular of hearing specialists, are limited by noise regimes in their environment.

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The effects of man-made noise on the behavior of marine animals

Cited by 75 publications

References 39 publications

Displacement responses of a mysticete, an adontocete, and a phacid seal to construction-related vessel traffic

Displacement responses of a mysticete, an adontocete, and a phacid seal to construction-related vessel traffic

Startle response of captive North Sea fish species to underwater tones between 0.1 and 64kHz

Hearing in Fishes under Noise Conditions

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