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

© The authors 2016.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 develo...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ellison, W., Racca, R., Clark, C., Streever, B., Frankel, A., Fleishman, E., Angliss, R., Berger, J., Ketten, Darlene, Guerra, M., Leu, M., McKenna, M., Sformo, T., Southall, B., Suydam, R., Thomas, L.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Inter-Research 2016
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/52145
_version_ 1848758856934490112
author Ellison, W.
Racca, R.
Clark, C.
Streever, B.
Frankel, A.
Fleishman, E.
Angliss, R.
Berger, J.
Ketten, Darlene
Guerra, M.
Leu, M.
McKenna, M.
Sformo, T.
Southall, B.
Suydam, R.
Thomas, L.
author_facet Ellison, W.
Racca, R.
Clark, C.
Streever, B.
Frankel, A.
Fleishman, E.
Angliss, R.
Berger, J.
Ketten, Darlene
Guerra, M.
Leu, M.
McKenna, M.
Sformo, T.
Southall, B.
Suydam, R.
Thomas, L.
author_sort Ellison, W.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description © The authors 2016.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 µPa, 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.
first_indexed 2025-11-14T09:50:39Z
format Journal Article
id curtin-20.500.11937-52145
institution Curtin University Malaysia
institution_category Local University
last_indexed 2025-11-14T09:50:39Z
publishDate 2016
publisher Inter-Research
recordtype eprints
repository_type Digital Repository
spelling curtin-20.500.11937-521452017-09-13T15:39:04Z Modeling the aggregated exposure and responses of bowhead whales Balaena mysticetus to multiple sources of anthropogenic underwater sound Ellison, W. Racca, R. Clark, C. Streever, B. Frankel, A. Fleishman, E. Angliss, R. Berger, J. Ketten, Darlene Guerra, M. Leu, M. McKenna, M. Sformo, T. Southall, B. Suydam, R. Thomas, L. © The authors 2016.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 µPa, 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. 2016 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/52145 10.3354/esr00727 Inter-Research unknown
spellingShingle Ellison, W.
Racca, R.
Clark, C.
Streever, B.
Frankel, A.
Fleishman, E.
Angliss, R.
Berger, J.
Ketten, Darlene
Guerra, M.
Leu, M.
McKenna, M.
Sformo, T.
Southall, B.
Suydam, R.
Thomas, L.
Modeling the aggregated exposure and responses of bowhead whales Balaena mysticetus to multiple sources of anthropogenic underwater sound
title Modeling the aggregated exposure and responses of bowhead whales Balaena mysticetus to multiple sources of anthropogenic underwater sound
title_full Modeling the aggregated exposure and responses of bowhead whales Balaena mysticetus to multiple sources of anthropogenic underwater sound
title_fullStr Modeling the aggregated exposure and responses of bowhead whales Balaena mysticetus to multiple sources of anthropogenic underwater sound
title_full_unstemmed Modeling the aggregated exposure and responses of bowhead whales Balaena mysticetus to multiple sources of anthropogenic underwater sound
title_short Modeling the aggregated exposure and responses of bowhead whales Balaena mysticetus to multiple sources of anthropogenic underwater sound
title_sort modeling the aggregated exposure and responses of bowhead whales balaena mysticetus to multiple sources of anthropogenic underwater sound
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/52145