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Modeling the aggregated exposure and responses of bowhead whales Balaena mysticetus to multiple sources of anthropogenic underwater sound

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Date
02/05/2016
Author
Ellison, William T.
Racca, Roberto
Clark, Christopher W.
Streever, Bill
Frankel, Adam S.
Fleishman, Erica
Angliss, Robyn
Berger, Joel
Ketten, Darlene
Guerra, Melania
Leu, Matthias
McKenna, Megan
Sformo, Todd
Southall, Brandon
Suydam, Robert
Thomas, Len
Keywords
Arctic
Cumulative effects
Harassment
Incidental take
Marine mammals
Negligible impact
QH301 Biology
NDAS
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Abstract
Potential responses of marine mammals to anthropogenic underwater sound are usually assessed by researchers and regulators on the basis of exposure to a single, relatively loud sound source. However, marine mammals typically receive sounds from multiple, dynamic sources. We developed a method to aggregate modeled sounds from multiple sources and estimate the sound levels received by individuals. To illustrate the method, we modeled the sound fields of 9 sources associated with oil development and estimated the sound received over 47 d by a population of 10 000 simulated bowhead whales Balaena mysticetus on their annual migration through the Alaskan Beaufort Sea. Empirical data were sufficient to parameterize simulations of the distribution of individual whales over time and their range of movement patterns. We ran 2 simulations to estimate the sound exposure history and distances traveled by bowhead whales: one in which they could change their movement paths (avert) in response to set levels of sound and one in which they could not avert. When animals could not avert, about 2% of the simulated population was exposed to root mean square (rms) sound pressure levels (SPL) ≥ 180 dB re 1 mu Pa, a level that regulators in the U.S. often associate with injury. When animals could avert from sound levels that regulators often associate with behavioral disturbance (rms SPL > 160 dB re 1  μPa), <1% of the simulated population was exposed to levels associated with injury. Nevertheless, many simulated bowhead whales received sound levels considerably above ambient throughout their migration. Our method enables estimates of the aggregated level of sound to which populations are exposed over extensive areas and time periods.
Citation
Ellison , W T , Racca , R , Clark , C W , Streever , B , Frankel , A S , Fleishman , E , Angliss , R , Berger , J , Ketten , D , Guerra , M , Leu , M , McKenna , M , Sformo , T , Southall , B , Suydam , R & Thomas , L 2016 , ' Modeling the aggregated exposure and responses of bowhead whales Balaena mysticetus to multiple sources of anthropogenic underwater sound ' , Endangered Species Research , vol. 30 , pp. 95-108 . https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00727
Publication
Endangered Species Research
Status
Peer reviewed
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00727
ISSN
1863-5407
Type
Journal article
Rights
© The authors 2016. Open Access under Creative Commons by Attribution Licence. Use, distribution and reproduction are unrestricted. Authors and original publication must be credited.
Description
This work was supported in part by a contract between BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. and the University of California, Santa Barbara (E.F.), and by the North Slope Borough.
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  • University of St Andrews Research
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10023/9259

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