scholarly journals Exposure to seismic air gun signals causes physiological harm and alters behavior in the scallop Pecten fumatus

2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (40) ◽  
pp. E8537-E8546 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan D. Day ◽  
Robert D. McCauley ◽  
Quinn P. Fitzgibbon ◽  
Klaas Hartmann ◽  
Jayson M. Semmens
Keyword(s):  
Blood Cell ◽  
Sublethal Effects ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Repeated Exposure ◽  
Seismic Signals ◽  
Seismic Surveys ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Air Gun ◽  
Behavioral Parameters ◽  
The Impact

Seismic surveys map the seabed using intense, low-frequency sound signals that penetrate kilometers into the Earth’s crust. Little is known regarding how invertebrates, including economically and ecologically important bivalves, are affected by exposure to seismic signals. In a series of field-based experiments, we investigate the impact of exposure to seismic surveys on scallops, using measurements of physiological and behavioral parameters to determine whether exposure may cause mass mortality or result in other sublethal effects. Exposure to seismic signals was found to significantly increase mortality, particularly over a chronic (months postexposure) time scale, though not beyond naturally occurring rates of mortality. Exposure did not elicit energetically expensive behaviors, but scallops showed significant changes in behavioral patterns during exposure, through a reduction in classic behaviors and demonstration of a nonclassic “flinch” response to air gun signals. Furthermore, scallops showed persistent alterations in recessing reflex behavior following exposure, with the rate of recessing increasing with repeated exposure. Hemolymph (blood analog) physiology showed a compromised capacity for homeostasis and potential immunodeficiency, as a range of hemolymph biochemistry parameters were altered and the density of circulating hemocytes (blood cell analog) was significantly reduced, with effects observed over acute (hours to days) and chronic (months) scales. The size of the air gun had no effect, but repeated exposure intensified responses. We postulate that the observed impacts resulted from high seabed ground accelerations driven by the air gun signal. Given the scope of physiological disruption, we conclude that seismic exposure can harm scallops.

scholarly journals Airgun blasts used in marine seismic surveys have limited effects on mortality, and no sublethal effects on behaviour or gene expression, in the copepod Calanus finmarchicus

2019 ◽  
Vol 76 (7) ◽  
pp. 2033-2044 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M Fields ◽  
Nils Olav Handegard ◽  
John Dalen ◽  
Christiane Eichner ◽  
Ketil Malde ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escape Response ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Sublethal Effects ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Calanus Finmarchicus ◽  
Sensory Threshold ◽  
Seismic Surveys ◽  
Commercially Important ◽  
Or Gene ◽  
Marine Seismic

Abstract Seismic surveys use airguns that emit low frequency high magnitude sound to detect subsea resources and to map seabed geology. The effect of seismic blasts on Calanus spp., a key food source for commercially important fish, was assessed in field experiments. Immediate mortality of copepods was significantly different from controls at distances of 5 m or less from the airguns. Mortality 1 week after the airgun blast was significantly higher—by 9% relative to controls—in the copepods placed 10 m from the airgun blast but was not significantly different from the controls at a distance of 20 m from the airgun blast. The increase in mortality—relative to controls—did not exceed 30% at any distance from the airgun blast. Only two genes changed in response to the airgun blast; however, their function is unknown. There were no sublethal effects of the seismic blasts on the escape performance or the sensory threshold needed to initiate an escape response at any of the distances from the airgun blast that were tested. Results from these experiments suggest that seismic blasts have limited effects on the mortality or escape response of Calanus sp. within 10 m of the blast and no measurable impact at greater distances.

SEISMIC SIGNATURES OF LARGE AIR GUNS

Geophysics ◽  
1971 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 1162-1173 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Harry Mayne ◽  
Roy G. Quay
Keyword(s):  
Energy Levels ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Experimental Tests ◽  
Frequency Spectra ◽  
Seismic Surveys ◽  
Air Gun ◽  
Absolute Energy ◽  
Overall Performance ◽  
Marine Seismic ◽  
Effective Source

Large chamber air guns are a reliable and effective source of energy for marine seismic surveys. Air guns with chamber volumes of 300 and 1000 cubic inches demonstrate desirable low‐frequency responses and high absolute energy levels. Overall performance has been compromised, however, by the bubble effect. Previous attempts at minimizing the bubble response have resulted in loss of reliability, reduced power, or incomplete bubble suppression, or a combination thereof. In this paper, we present the results of experimental tests on air guns with 300 and 1000 cubic inch chambers and describe a divided‐chamber gun which greatly attenuates the bubble effect. Significant improvements in the width and flatness of the frequency spectra are demonstrated by analysis of the actual signatures obtained in deep water and with record sections comparing the results obtained with the standard and improved guns along an identical traverse. The bubble‐attenuating air gun simultaneously provides improved resolution, high absolute‐energy levels, and excellent reliability.

scholarly journals Natural asynchronies in audiovisual communication signals regulate neuronal multisensory interactions in voice-sensitive cortex

2014 ◽  
Vol 112 (1) ◽  
pp. 273-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine Perrodin ◽  
Christoph Kayser ◽  
Nikos K. Logothetis ◽  
Christopher I. Petkov
Keyword(s):  
Neuronal Excitability ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Audiovisual Communication ◽  
Communication Signals ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Multisensory Interactions ◽  
Informative Content ◽  
Multisensory Input ◽  
The Impact

When social animals communicate, the onset of informative content in one modality varies considerably relative to the other, such as when visual orofacial movements precede a vocalization. These naturally occurring asynchronies do not disrupt intelligibility or perceptual coherence. However, they occur on time scales where they likely affect integrative neuronal activity in ways that have remained unclear, especially for hierarchically downstream regions in which neurons exhibit temporally imprecise but highly selective responses to communication signals. To address this, we exploited naturally occurring face- and voice-onset asynchronies in primate vocalizations. Using these as stimuli we recorded cortical oscillations and neuronal spiking responses from functional MRI (fMRI)-localized voice-sensitive cortex in the anterior temporal lobe of macaques. We show that the onset of the visual face stimulus resets the phase of low-frequency oscillations, and that the face–voice asynchrony affects the prominence of two key types of neuronal multisensory responses: enhancement or suppression. Our findings show a three-way association between temporal delays in audiovisual communication signals, phase-resetting of ongoing oscillations, and the sign of multisensory responses. The results reveal how natural onset asynchronies in cross-sensory inputs regulate network oscillations and neuronal excitability in the voice-sensitive cortex of macaques, a suggested animal model for human voice areas. These findings also advance predictions on the impact of multisensory input on neuronal processes in face areas and other brain regions.

scholarly journals Seismic air guns damage rock lobster mechanosensory organs and impair righting reflex

2019 ◽  
Vol 286 (1907) ◽  
pp. 20191424 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan D. Day ◽  
Robert D. McCauley ◽  
Quinn P. Fitzgibbon ◽  
Klaas Hartmann ◽  
Jayson M. Semmens
Keyword(s):  
Marine Invertebrates ◽  
Economic Impacts ◽  
Rock Lobster ◽  
Seismic Surveys ◽  
Air Gun ◽  
Significant Damage ◽  
Jasus Edwardsii ◽  
Sensory Hairs ◽  
Righting Reflex ◽  
The Impact

The effects of anthropogenic aquatic noise on marine invertebrates are poorly understood. We investigated the impact of seismic surveys on the righting reflex and statocyst morphology of the palinurid rock lobster, Jasus edwardsii , using field-based exposure to air gun signals. Following exposure equivalent to a full-scale commercial assay passing within 100–500 m, lobsters showed impaired righting and significant damage to the sensory hairs of the statocyst. Reflex impairment and statocyst damage persisted over the course of the experiments—up to 365 days post-exposure and did not improved following moulting. These results indicate that exposure to air gun signals caused morphological damage to the statocyst of rock lobsters, which can in turn impair complex reflexes. This damage and impairment adds further evidence that anthropogenic aquatic noise has the potential to harm invertebrates, necessitating a better understanding of possible ecological and economic impacts.

Identification of and Favorable Conditions for a New Long-Offset Seismic Phase from Offshore–Onshore Seismic Surveys

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Changrong Zhang ◽  
Shaohong Xia ◽  
Jinghe Cao ◽  
Kuiyuan Wan ◽  
Cheng Xiong
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Waves ◽  
River Estuary ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Seismic Survey ◽  
Apparent Velocity ◽  
Seismic Surveys ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Air Gun ◽  
Crustal Structures ◽  
Favorable Conditions

Abstract Offshore–onshore seismic survey is one of the main methods to study crustal structures in offshore–onshore transitional zones. At present, the seismic waves commonly used in imaging are the crustal refraction (Pg), the crustal reflection from the Moho (PmP), and the upper-mantle refraction (Pn) waves. The propagation distances of Pg and PmP are commonly less than 210 km, and Pn propagates with an apparent velocity of ∼8  km/s. In 2015, two offshore–onshore wide-angle seismic lines with a length of ∼350  km were acquired in the Pearl River Estuary. In addition to Pg, PmP, and Pn, a new seismic phase was observed, which has a long propagation distance (offset of ∼170–290  km), low apparent velocity (∼5.85  km/s), and low frequency (∼4–7  Hz). Similar seismic phases have been widely reported in previous offshore–onshore and reservoir seismic surveys, but the understanding of these phases is still limited. Herein, we used both raytracing and waveform modeling methods to identify the new seismic phase as the secondary Pg phase, which reflects from the surface (named Pg2Pg). We also discuss favorable conditions for Pg2Pg, including (1) a thin sedimentary layer with low velocity at the surface in which the reflection of Pg occurs, which can reduce the incidence angles and hence increase the energy of the reflected waves; (2) a sedimentary basement dipping toward the sea at the positions of the air gun shots, which focuses seismic waves; (3) relatively smooth interfaces of the medium, which can reduce the scattering of Pg2Pg; and (4) air guns that can excite low-frequency signals, which can reduce the attenuation of seismic waves. Checkerboard tests and practical applications show that Pg2Pg can significantly improve upper-crustal resolution, especially for onshore areas. Our research promotes the data mining of offshore–onshore seismic surveys, which is important for obtaining more detailed crustal structures.

USING FIELD DATA FOR THE EVALUATION OF THE IMPACT OF ULTRA-LOW FREQUENCY MOTIONS ON THE FATIGUE OF MOORING LINES

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guilherme Borzacchiello ◽  
Carl Albrecht ◽  
Fabricio N Correa ◽  
Breno Jacob ◽  
Guilherme da Silva Leal
Keyword(s):  
Field Data ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Mooring Lines ◽  
The Impact

Marine Quality Standards: Their Derivation and Application in the United Kingdom

1985 ◽  
Vol 17 (6-7) ◽  
pp. 1187-1198 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Mance ◽  
A. R. O'Donnell
Keyword(s):  
Coastal Waters ◽  
Sublethal Effects ◽  
Quality Standards ◽  
Toxicity Data ◽  
Marine Life ◽  
Nickel Zinc ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
The Common ◽  
Lead Nickel ◽  
The Impact

This paper discusses the derivation of environmental quality standards for coastal waters and the difficulties of using such standards for controlling industrial discharges. Attention is focused on the common List II substances, copper, chromium, lead, nickel, zinc and arsenic - and their effects on marine life. The adequacy of existing toxicity data is discussed and it is concluded that long exposure tests are required to provide information on sublethal effects. Such data are currently limited. It is also important that consideration be given to the effects that reducing salinities and increasing temperatures have in increasing the toxicity of these substances. The complexity of interpreting the results of laboratory toxicity data to coastal waters is discussed with reference to a study of the impact of an industrial discharge.

scholarly journals Review on Sublethal Effects of Environmental Contaminants in Honey Bees (Apis mellifera), Knowledge Gaps and Future Perspectives

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 1863 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agata Di Noi ◽  
Silvia Casini ◽  
Tommaso Campani ◽  
Giampiero Cai ◽  
Ilaria Caliani
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Sublethal Effects ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Anthropogenic Contamination ◽  
Knowledge Gaps ◽  
Pollination Services ◽  
General Decline ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic ◽  
The Impact

Honey bees and the pollination services they provide are fundamental for agriculture and biodiversity. Agrochemical products and other classes of contaminants, such as trace elements and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, contribute to the general decline of bees’ populations. For this reason, effects, and particularly sublethal effects of contaminants need to be investigated. We conducted a review of the existing literature regarding the type of effects evaluated in Apis mellifera, collecting information about regions, methodological approaches, the type of contaminants, and honey bees’ life stages. Europe and North America are the regions in which A. mellifera biological responses were mostly studied and the most investigated compounds are insecticides. A. mellifera was studied more in the laboratory than in field conditions. Through the observation of the different responses examined, we found that there were several knowledge gaps that should be addressed, particularly within enzymatic and molecular responses, such as those regarding the immune system and genotoxicity. The importance of developing an integrated approach that combines responses at different levels, from molecular to organism and population, needs to be highlighted in order to evaluate the impact of anthropogenic contamination on this pollinator species.

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