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Proc Royal Soc B. Blue whales respond to simulated mid-frequency military sonar
[Source: Proceedings of the Royal Society, Biological Sciences, full page: (LINK). Abstract, edited.]
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Blue whales respond to simulated mid-frequency military sonar
Jeremy A. Goldbogen 1, Brandon L. Southall 2,3, Stacy L. DeRuiter 9, John Calambokidis 1, Ari S. Friedlaender 2,3,4, Elliott L. Hazen 3,4,5, Erin A. Falcone 1, Gregory S. Schorr 1, Annie Douglas 1, David J. Moretti 6, Chris Kyburg 7, Megan F. McKenna 8 and Peter L. Tyack 10
Author Affiliations: <SUP>1</SUP>Cascadia Research Collective, 218 1/2 W. 4th Avenue, Olympia, WA 98501, USA <SUP>2</SUP>Southall Environmental Associates Inc., 9099 Soquel Drive, Suite 8, Aptos, CA 95003, USA <SUP>3</SUP>Long Marine Laboratory, University of California, Santa Cruz, Institute of Marine Sciences, 100 Shaffer Road, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA <SUP>4</SUP>Duke University Marine Laboratory, 135 Duke Marine Laboratory Road, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA <SUP>5</SUP>National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Pacific Grove, CA, USA <SUP>6</SUP>Division Newport, Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Newport, RI, USA <SUP>7</SUP>Spawar Systems Center, Pacific, Code 7175, 53475 Strothe Road, San Diego, CA 92152, USA <SUP>8</SUP>National Park Service, 1201 Oakridge Drive, Suite 100, Fort Collins, CO 80525, USA <SUP>9</SUP>CREEM, The Observatory, Buchanan Gardens, University of St Andrews, Fife KY16 9LZ, UK <SUP>10</SUP>Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, Fife KY16 9LZ, UK
e-mail: jgoldbogen@gmail.com - e-mail: brandon.southall@sea-inc.net
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.
blue whale - military sonar - underwater noise - sensory ecology ? foraging - bio-logging
Received March 13, 2013. Accepted June 11, 2013.
? 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.
-Jeremy A. Goldbogen 1, Brandon L. Southall 2,3, Stacy L. DeRuiter 9, John Calambokidis 1, Ari S. Friedlaender 2,3,4, Elliott L. Hazen 3,4,5, Erin A. Falcone 1, Gregory S. Schorr 1, Annie Douglas 1, David J. Moretti 6, Chris Kyburg 7, Megan F. McKenna 8 and Peter L. Tyack 10
Author Affiliations: <SUP>1</SUP>Cascadia Research Collective, 218 1/2 W. 4th Avenue, Olympia, WA 98501, USA <SUP>2</SUP>Southall Environmental Associates Inc., 9099 Soquel Drive, Suite 8, Aptos, CA 95003, USA <SUP>3</SUP>Long Marine Laboratory, University of California, Santa Cruz, Institute of Marine Sciences, 100 Shaffer Road, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA <SUP>4</SUP>Duke University Marine Laboratory, 135 Duke Marine Laboratory Road, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA <SUP>5</SUP>National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Pacific Grove, CA, USA <SUP>6</SUP>Division Newport, Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Newport, RI, USA <SUP>7</SUP>Spawar Systems Center, Pacific, Code 7175, 53475 Strothe Road, San Diego, CA 92152, USA <SUP>8</SUP>National Park Service, 1201 Oakridge Drive, Suite 100, Fort Collins, CO 80525, USA <SUP>9</SUP>CREEM, The Observatory, Buchanan Gardens, University of St Andrews, Fife KY16 9LZ, UK <SUP>10</SUP>Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, Fife KY16 9LZ, UK
e-mail: jgoldbogen@gmail.com - e-mail: brandon.southall@sea-inc.net
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.
blue whale - military sonar - underwater noise - sensory ecology ? foraging - bio-logging
Received March 13, 2013. Accepted June 11, 2013.
? 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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