scholarly journals Vessel noise levels drive behavioural responses of humpback whales with implications for whale-watching

eLife ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate R Sprogis ◽  
Simone Videsen ◽  
Peter T Madsen
Keyword(s):  
Low Frequency ◽  
Humpback Whales ◽  
Noise Levels ◽  
Whale Watching ◽  
Noise Emission ◽  
Sensory Stimuli ◽  
Fitness Consequences ◽  
Controlled Exposure ◽  
Vessel Noise ◽  
The Impact

Disturbance from whale-watching can cause significant behavioural changes with fitness consequences for targeted whale populations. However, the sensory stimuli triggering these responses are unknown, preventing effective mitigation. Here, we test the hypothesis that vessel noise level is a driver of disturbance, using humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) as a model species. We conducted controlled exposure experiments (n = 42) on resting mother-calf pairs on a resting ground off Australia, by simulating whale-watch scenarios with a research vessel (range 100 m, speed 1.5 knts) playing back vessel noise at control/low (124/148 dB), medium (160 dB) or high (172 dB) low frequency-weighted source levels (re 1 μPa RMS@1 m). Compared to control/low treatments, during high noise playbacks the mother’s proportion of time resting decreased by 30%, respiration rate doubled and swim speed increased by 37%. We therefore conclude that vessel noise is an adequate driver of behavioural disturbance in whales and that regulations to mitigate the impact of whale-watching should include noise emission standards.

Effects of the reduction of aircraft noise emission due to the travel restriction during the COVID-19 pandemic at residential areas around Tan Son Nhat Airport

2021 ◽  
Vol 263 (1) ◽  
pp. 5114-5124
Author(s):  
Thulan Nguyen ◽  
Tran Thi Hong Nhung Nguyen ◽  
Bach Lien Trieu ◽  
Makoto Morinaga ◽  
Yasuhiro Hiraguri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aircraft Noise ◽  
Residential Areas ◽  
Noise Levels ◽  
Noise Emission ◽  
Acoustic Environment ◽  
Comparison Results ◽  
Travel Restrictions ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Travel Restriction

The travel restrictions caused by the epidemic outbreak in early 2020 worldwide have caused many changes in all aspects of life, especially in the acoustic environment. This study examines the impact of this environmental change at Tan Son Nhat International Airport (TSN), the largest airport in Vietnam, by comparing the situations before and after the airport stopped operating all international flights in March 2020. The after-the-change survey was conducted in 2 phases, June and September 2020, three months and six months after the stop decision. The number of flights observed in August 2019 was 728; this number is 413 and 299 for the two surveys in 2020. The range of noise levels estimated for 12 sites around TSN decreased from 63-81 dB in 2019 to 32-67 dB in June 2020 and 33-69 dB in September 2020. At the same aircraft noise level, the percentage of highly annoyed (% HA) and the percentage of insomnia (%ISM) in the 2020 survey are higher than those in the 2019 survey. The comparison results of reaction to noise before and after the TSN's noise change indicated an increase in negative responses to noise might happen in the increased noise and reduced noise situation.

scholarly journals Whale-watch vessel noise levels with applications to whale-watching guidelines and conservation

Marine Policy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 134 ◽  
pp. 104776
Author(s):  
Patricia Arranz ◽  
Natacha Aguilar de Soto ◽  
Peter T. Madsen ◽  
Kate R. Sprogis
Keyword(s):  
Noise Levels ◽  
Whale Watching ◽  
Vessel Noise

scholarly journals The Impact of Vessels on Humpback Whale Behavior: The Benefit of Added Whale Watching Guidelines

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jens J. Currie ◽  
Jessica A. McCordic ◽  
Grace L. Olson ◽  
Abigail F. Machernis ◽  
Stephanie H. Stack
Keyword(s):  
Respiration Rate ◽  
Humpback Whale ◽  
Humpback Whales ◽  
Whale Watching ◽  
Modeling Framework ◽  
Marine Tourism ◽  
Generalized Additive Modeling ◽  
The World ◽  
Additive Modeling ◽  
The Impact

The concurrent increase in marine tourism and vessel traffic around the world highlights the need for developing responsible whale watching guidelines. To determine the impact of vessel presence on humpback whale behaviors in Maui Nui, a land-based study was conducted from 2015 to 2018 in Maui, Hawai'i. Theodolite tracks were used to summarize humpback whale swim speed, respiration rate, dive time, and path directness to determine the potential impacts of various types of vessel presence on whale behavior. Vessel presence, proximity, and approach type in conjunction with biological parameters were used in a generalized additive modeling framework to explain changes in whale behaviors. The results presented here show increases in swim speed, respiration rate, and path directness in conjunction with decreasing dive times, which has been shown to be an energetically demanding avoidance strategy. These observations, in conjunction with increasing awareness on the implication of non-lethal effects of human disturbance and changing oceanic environments on humpback whales, highlights the need for a pre-cautionary approach to management. Stricter guidelines on whale watching will limit the level of disturbance to individual humpback whales in Hawai'i and ensure they maintain the fitness required to compensate for varying ecological and anthropogenic conditions.

scholarly journals Evidence of Cnidarians sensitivity to sound after exposure to low frequency noise underwater sources

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Solé ◽  
Marc Lenoir ◽  
José Manuel Fontuño ◽  
Mercè Durfort ◽  
Mike van der Schaar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fish Larvae ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Noise Pollution ◽  
Marine Species ◽  
Acoustic Trauma ◽  
Sensory Epithelium ◽  
Frequency Noise ◽  
Noise Levels ◽  
Sound Sources ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Jellyfishes represent a group of species that play an important role in oceans, particularly as a food source for different taxa and as a predator of fish larvae and planktonic prey. The massive introduction of artificial sound sources in the oceans has become a concern to science and society. While we are only beginning to understand that non-hearing specialists like cephalopods can be affected by anthropogenic noises and regulation is underway to measure European water noise levels, we still don’t know yet if the impact of sound may be extended to other lower level taxa of the food web. Here we exposed two species of Mediterranean Scyphozoan medusa, Cotylorhiza tuberculata and Rhizostoma pulmo to a sweep of low frequency sounds. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed injuries in the statocyst sensory epithelium of both species after exposure to sound, that are consistent with the manifestation of a massive acoustic trauma observed in other species. The presence of acoustic trauma in marine species that are not hearing specialists, like medusa, shows the magnitude of the problem of noise pollution and the complexity of the task to determine threshold values that would help building up regulation to prevent permanent damage of the ecosystems.

scholarly journals Impacts of Whale Watching on the Behavior of Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the Coast of Panama

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arielle M. Amrein ◽  
Hector M. Guzman ◽  
Katie C. Surrey ◽  
Beth Polidoro ◽  
Leah R. Gerber
Keyword(s):  
Animal Behavior ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Megaptera Novaeangliae ◽  
Educational Opportunities ◽  
Humpback Whales ◽  
Whale Watching ◽  
Management Planning ◽  
Conservation Policies ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
The Impact

Ecotourism focused on whales and dolphins has become a popular activity and an important source of revenue for many countries. Whale watching is vital to supporting conservation efforts and provides numerous benefits to local communities including educational opportunities and job creation. However, the sustainability of whale-based ecotourism depends on the behavior and health of whale populations and it is crucial that ecotourism industries consider the impact of their activities on whale behavior. To address this statement, we collected behavioral data (e.g., change in swimming direction, frequency of breaching, slap behaviors, diving, and spy hops) from humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the marine protected area of Las Perlas Archipelago off the Pacific coast of Panama. The goal was to determine if tourist vessel presence had an influence on whale behaviors. We conducted this study during the humpback whale breeding season from August through September 2019. Based on 47 behavioral observations, we found that higher boat density corresponded with humpback whales’ frequency of direction changes, which based on previous literature is believed to be a sign of disturbance. Alternatively, no changes in behavior were observed with varying boat density. This result is important given Panamanian regulations first implemented in 2007 by Resolution AMD/ARAP No. 01, 2007 prohibit whale-based tourism from disturbing whales, which is explicitly measured by changes in whale behavior. Because there is no systematic monitoring of whale watching activity to enforce the regulations, there is currently little compliance from tour operators and tourists. The integration of animal behavior research into management planning should result in more effective regulation and compliance of such conservation policies.

scholarly journals LEVELS, TRENDS AND EXPOSURE DOSES OF NOISE EMITTED BY SMALL SCALE ENTERPRISES IN ABEOKUTA, SOUTH-WESTERN NIGERIA

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-66
Author(s):  
O. OGUNTOKE ◽  
O. SHOLANKE ◽  
A. C. OJO
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Weighted Average ◽  
Noise Pollution ◽  
Policy Formulation ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Noise Levels ◽  
Noise Emission ◽  
Machine Operators ◽  
The Impact

Monitoring of noise levels and their impact are common in large scale and corporate industrial establishments while the small scale industries have not received sufficient attention. Consequently, the present study examined the levels and pattern of noise emission from small-scale enterprises that are generally ignored from compliance monitoring of the relevant agencies. The study utilises the results of noise emission quantification, determination of safe distance to the selected small-scale enterprises and impact on human as input for noise policy formulation. Three types of small-scale enterprises sampled from seventy-five (75) sites in Abeokuta were selected for noise measurement using a portable noise meter. Questionnaire and field observation were employed to assess the impact of noise on machine operators and their apprentices. Mean noise emission from the aluminum slitting machines ranged from 103.9 – 118.4 d(BA), iron welding machines; 97.0 – 108.8 d(BA) and food grinding machines; 91.6 to 108.2 d(BA). Daily Noise Dose (DND) from these three types of machine workshops were 800 – 19230% (aluminum slitter), 200 – 2400% (iron welder), and 100 – 3305% (food grinder). Time Weighted Average (TWA) for 8 hours noise exposure values were 94.0 – 107.8, 88.0 – 98.8 and 85.0 – 100.2 respectively. The spatial dimension of noise emission from the studied machines showed that acceptable levels were obtained at 20 meters from the machines sites. As predictors of variations in noise emission, the age of the machines explained 8.3 – 13.6%, 17.2 – 17.8% and 29.1 – 55.4% of noise emitted by food grinders, aluminum slitters and iron welders. The capacities of the studied machines predicted 7.9 – 13.5%, 18.4 – 30.5 and 43.9 – 56.3% of the noise emitted by iron welders, aluminum slitter and food grinders respectively. While the noise levels at the sites of the machines were significantly higher than the permissible limit, 25% of the workers were exposed for upwards of 10 hours daily and 30% for more than five years. The array of health problems; stress, dizziness, tinnitus, sleep disturbance and speech interference, experienced by the machines operators may not be unconnected to their non-use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to minimize noise hazard. Policy formulation for public protection from noise pollution should prescribe limit for small scale enterprises, enforce noise level compliance, monitor wearing of appropriate PPE by machine operators and maintained a minimum of 20 meters between the sites of these machines and other human activities.         

scholarly journals Decreased resting and nursing in short-finned pilot whales when exposed to louder petrol engine noise of a hybrid whale-watch vessel

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Arranz ◽  
M. Glarou ◽  
K. R. Sprogis
Keyword(s):  
Best Practice ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Low Noise ◽  
Petrol Engine ◽  
Noise Emission ◽  
Behavioural Responses ◽  
Primary Driver ◽  
Pilot Whales ◽  
Vessel Noise ◽  
Electric Engine

AbstractVessel noise is a primary driver of behavioural disturbance in cetaceans, which are targeted during whale-watch activities. Despite the growing, global effort for implementing best-practice principles, to date, there are no regulations on whale-watch vessel noise levels. Here, we test the hypothesis that a whale-watch vessel with a low noise emission will not elicit short-term behavioural responses in toothed whales compared to a vessel with a louder engine. We measured behavioural responses (n = 36) of short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) to whale-watch vessel approaches (range 60 m, speed 1.5 kn). Treatment approaches with a quieter electric engine (136–140 dB) compared to the same vessel with a louder petrol engine (151–139 dB) (low-frequency–mid-frequency weighted source levels, re 1 µPa RMS @ 1 m) were examined. Focal whales were resting mother and calves in small group sizes. During petrol engine treatments, the mother’s mean resting time decreased by 29% compared to the control (GLM, p = 0.009). The mean proportion of time nursing for the calf was significantly influenced by petrol engine vessel passes, with a 81% decrease compared to the control (GLM, p = 0.01). There were no significant effects on behaviour from the quieter electric engine. Thus, to minimise disturbance on the activity budget of pilot whales, whale-watch vessels would ideally have source levels as low as possible, below 150 dB re 1 µPa RMS @ 1 m and perceived above ambient noise.

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
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document