Underwater noise impact assessment and the hearing response of marine animals

2010 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 741
Author(s):  
Granger Bennett ◽  
Jim McLoughlin
Keyword(s):  
Impact Assessment ◽  
Anthropogenic Noise ◽  
Marine Animal ◽  
Underwater Noise ◽  
Marine Animals ◽  
Spectral Content ◽  
Noise Impact ◽  
Noise Measurements ◽  
Human Hearing ◽  
Noise Impacts

The ability of a marine animal to hear anthropogenic (man-made) sound underwater is affected by the animal’s auditory bandwidth and its sensitivity to sound of different frequencies within that bandwidth. Auditory bandwidths for marine animals vary from species to species and may or may not coincide with, or overlap, human auditory bandwidths. For example, turtles are not able to hear some sounds that are clearly audible to humans, while dolphins can hear sounds that are beyond the range of human hearing. Therefore, underwater noise impacts assessments for marine animals need to take into account both the spectral content of the anthropogenic noise and the auditory bandwidths of the various species under consideration. This paper demonstrates how the auditory bandwidth and sensitivity of marine animals to sounds of different frequencies can affect the outcomes of impact assessments. The analysis is supported by results from underwater noise modelling and noise measurements.

scholarly journals First observations of anthropogenic underwater noise in a large multi-use lake

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Bolgan ◽  
Emilia Chorazyczewska ◽  
Ian J. Winfield ◽  
Antonio Codarin ◽  
Joanne O'Brien ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fish Community ◽  
Noise Pollution ◽  
Anthropogenic Noise ◽  
Underwater Noise ◽  
Noise Levels ◽  
Potential Threat ◽  
Spectral Content ◽  
Freshwater Organisms ◽  
Passive Acoustic ◽  
Inland Water Bodies

<p>Over the last fifty years, anthropogenic noise has increased dramatically in aquatic environments and is now recognised as a chronic form of pollution in coastal waters. However, this form of pollution has been largely neglected in inland water bodies. To date, very few studies have investigated the noise spectra in freshwater environments and at present no legislation exists to protect freshwater organisms from anthropogenic noise. The present study represents the first assessment of anthropogenic noise pollution in<strong> </strong>a large multi-use lake<strong> </strong>by characterising noise levels of the main ferry landings of the lake of Windermere, UK using Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM). During November 2014, acoustic samples (10 min long) were collected from such areas using a calibrated omni-directional hydrophone and their spectral content was analysed in 1/3 octave bands (dB re 1 µPa). Results indicate that the current noise levels in Windermere warrant further investigation as a potential threat to the fish community which occurs in this already delicate and pressured habitat. Based on results obtained, it is recommended that further studies focus on a wider geographical and temporal range in order to start to fill the knowledge and legislative gaps regarding anthropogenic noise monitoring in fresh waters. </p>

scholarly journals Assessing anthropogenic noise impacts and relevant soundscape cues for marine invertebrates: leveraging squid and coral reefs as model systems

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Ian T. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Particle Motion ◽  
Marine Invertebrates ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Acoustic Properties ◽  
Offshore Wind ◽  
Anthropogenic Noise ◽  
Marine Animal ◽  
Noise Impacts

Sound is utilized by marine animal taxa for many ecologically important functions, and these taxa are vulnerable to adverse effects of anthropogenic noise on hearing and behavior. However, little is known about marine invertebrates’ responses to anthropogenic noise, and the ambient environmental sounds (“soundscapes”) they detect and respond to. Most acoustic studies report sound pressure (detected by mammals and some fish), but few report particle motion, the back-and-forth vibratory component of sound detected by marine invertebrates. I investigated invertebrate use of and response to sounds in two facets: 1) behavioral responses of longfin squid, Doryteuthis pealeii to anthropogenic noise, and 2) particle motion of coral reef soundscapes in the U.S. Virgin Islands. In laboratory-based experiments I exposed D. pealeii to construction noise originally recorded from an offshore wind farm. I found significant increases in squids’ alarm responses and in failed prey capture attempts during noise. Conversely, noise exposure had no significant effects on reproductive behaviors of groups of D. pealeii, indicating high motivation of these squid to reproduce during this stressor. Collectively, these experiments revealed the importance of considering behavioral context in studies and regulatory decisions regarding invertebrates’ susceptibility to anthropogenic noise impacts. In studying coral reef soundscapes, I reported particle motion trends over several months for coral reefs varying in habitat quality, including coral cover and fish abundance. I found acoustic properties over which particle motion closely scaled with pressure, and others over which it did not. I compared soundscape data with particle motion hearing thresholds, and found that invertebrates may only detect high amplitude and low frequency transient sound cues on reefs, such as those produced by fishes. My research bring new insights on natural and anthropogenic sound cues detectable by marine invertebrates, and how and when invertebrates will be vulnerable to anthropogenic noise pollution.

scholarly journals Chronic Anthropogenic Noise Exposure and Songbird Hearing

2008 ◽  
Vol 31 ◽  
pp. 61-64
Author(s):  
J. Barber
Keyword(s):  
Population Growth ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Transportation Networks ◽  
Anthropogenic Noise ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Marine Animals ◽  
The Us ◽  
Noise Production ◽  
Noise Impacts ◽  
Human Enterprise

As human populations have increased, our impact can now be felt even in the deepest remnants of wilderness (Vitousek et al. 1997). The resource demands of the ever-increasing human enterprise are creating substantial amplification of man-made pollution, including noise production. The dominant sources of anthropogenic noise are transportation networks, development (including energy, urban and industrial) and recreational activities. These activities are increasing faster than population growth. Between 1970 and 2007 the US population increased by approximately one third whereas (http://www.census.gov/compendia/statabO traffic on US roads nearly tripled, to almost 5 trillion vehicle kilometers per year, (http://www.thwa.dot.gov /ohim.tutw/tvpage.cfm.) Similar trends in shipping noise have also been observed in marine ecosystems, as discussed in reviews of noise impacts on marine animals (e.g., Nowacek et al. 2007).

scholarly journals First observations of anthropogenic underwater noise in a large multi-use lake

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Bolgan ◽  
Emilia Chorazyczewska ◽  
Ian J. Winfield ◽  
Antonio Codarin ◽  
Joanne O'Brien ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fish Community ◽  
Noise Pollution ◽  
Anthropogenic Noise ◽  
Underwater Noise ◽  
Noise Levels ◽  
Potential Threat ◽  
Spectral Content ◽  
Freshwater Organisms ◽  
Passive Acoustic ◽  
Inland Water Bodies

<p>Over the last fifty years, anthropogenic noise has increased dramatically in aquatic environments and is now recognised as a chronic form of pollution in coastal waters. However, this form of pollution has been largely neglected in inland water bodies. To date, very few studies have investigated the noise spectra in freshwater environments and at present no legislation exists to protect freshwater organisms from anthropogenic noise. The present study represents the first assessment of anthropogenic noise pollution in<strong> </strong>a large multi-use lake<strong> </strong>by characterising noise levels of the main ferry landings of the lake of Windermere, UK using Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM). During November 2014, acoustic samples (10 min long) were collected from such areas using a calibrated omni-directional hydrophone and their spectral content was analysed in 1/3 octave bands (dB re 1 µPa). Results indicate that the current noise levels in Windermere warrant further investigation as a potential threat to the fish community which occurs in this already delicate and pressured habitat. Based on results obtained, it is recommended that further studies focus on a wider geographical and temporal range in order to start to fill the knowledge and legislative gaps regarding anthropogenic noise monitoring in fresh waters. </p>

scholarly journals Maintenance of a High-Voltage Overhead Transmission Line: Sustainability and Noise Impact Assessment

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 491 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edoardo Piana ◽  
Fabio Bignucolo ◽  
Alberto Donini ◽  
Roberto Spezie
Keyword(s):  
Transmission Line ◽  
Impact Assessment ◽  
High Voltage ◽  
Overhead Transmission Line ◽  
Noise Impact

A REVIEW OF PRACTICAL METHODS FOR REDUCING UNDERWATER NOISE POLLUTION FROM LARGE COMMERCIAL VESSELS

2021 ◽  
Vol 154 (A2) ◽  
Author(s):  
R C Leaper ◽  
M R Renilson
Keyword(s):  
Noise Pollution ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Wake Flow ◽  
Underwater Noise ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Marine Life ◽  
Propeller Design ◽  
Widespread Agreement ◽  
Noise Measurements ◽  
Considerable Concern

Underwater noise pollution from shipping is of considerable concern for marine life, particularly due to the potential for raised ambient noise levels in the 10-300Hz frequency range to mask biological sounds. There is widespread agreement that reducing shipping noise is both necessary and feasible, and the International Maritime Organization is actively working on the issue. The main source of noise is associated with propeller cavitation, and measures to improve propeller design and wake flow may also reduce noise. It is likely that the noisiest 10% of ships generate the majority of the noise impact, and it may be possible to quieten these vessels through measures that also improve efficiency. However, an extensive data set of full scale noise measurements of ships under operating conditions is required to fully understand how different factors relate to noise output and how noise reduction can be achieved alongside energy saving measures.

Biotic and Abiotic Controls on the Phanerozoic History of Marine Animal Biodiversity

2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew M. Bush ◽  
Jonathan L. Payne
Keyword(s):  
Biotic Interactions ◽  
Annual Review ◽  
Publication Date ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Marine Animal ◽  
Marine Animals ◽  
Marine Habitat ◽  
Positive Feedbacks ◽  
Abiotic Controls ◽  
Time Changes

During the past 541 million years, marine animals underwent three intervals of diversification (early Cambrian, Ordovician, Cretaceous–Cenozoic) separated by nondirectional fluctuation, suggesting diversity-dependent dynamics with the equilibrium diversity shifting through time. Changes in factors such as shallow-marine habitat area and climate appear to have modulated the nondirectional fluctuations. Directional increases in diversity are best explained by evolutionary innovations in marine animals and primary producers coupled with stepwise increases in the availability of food and oxygen. Increasing intensity of biotic interactions such as predation and disturbance may have led to positive feedbacks on diversification as ecosystems became more complex. Important areas for further research include improving the geographic coverage and temporal resolution of paleontological data sets, as well as deepening our understanding of Earth system evolution and the physiological and ecological traits that modulated organismal responses to environmental change. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics, Volume 52 is November 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

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