Blue whales respond to simulated mid-frequency military sonar
Abstract
Mid-frequency military (1–10 kHz) sonars have been associated with lethal mass strandings of deep-diving toothed whales, but the effects on endangered baleen whale species are virtually unknown. Here, we used controlled exposure experiments with simulated military sonar and other mid-frequency sounds to measure behavioural responses of tagged blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) in feeding areas within the Southern California Bight. Despite using source levels orders of magnitude below some operational military systems, our results demonstrate that mid-frequency sound can significantly affect blue whale behaviour, especially during deep feeding modes. When a response occurred, behavioural changes varied widely from cessation of deep feeding to increased swimming speed and directed travel away from the sound source. The variability of these behavioural responses was largely influenced by a complex interaction of behavioural state, the type of mid-frequency sound and received sound level. Sonar-induced disruption of feeding and displacement from high-quality prey patches could have significant and previously undocumented impacts on baleen whale foraging ecology, individual fitness and population health.
Citation
Goldbogen , J A , Southall , B L , De Ruiter , S L , Calambokidis , J , Friedlaender , A S , Hazen , E L , Falcone , E A , Schorr , G S , Douglas , A , Moretti , D J , Kyburg , C , McKenna , M F & Tyack , P L 2013 , ' Blue whales respond to simulated mid-frequency military sonar ' , Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences , vol. 280 , no. 1765 , pp. 1-8 . https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2013.0657
Publication
Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
0962-8452Type
Journal article
Rights
© 2013 The Authors. Published by the Royal Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/, which permits unrestricted use, provided the original author and source are credited.
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