Evidence that ship noise increases stress in right whales
Baleen whales ( Mysticeti ) communicate using low-frequency acoustic signals. These long-wavelength sounds can be detected over hundreds of kilometres, potentially allowing contact over large distances. Low-frequency noise from large ships (20–200 Hz) overlaps acoustic signals used by baleen whales,...
Published in: | Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences |
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2011.2429 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rspb.2011.2429 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full-xml/10.1098/rspb.2011.2429 |
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crroyalsociety:10.1098/rspb.2011.2429 2024-09-30T14:32:46+00:00 Evidence that ship noise increases stress in right whales Rolland, Rosalind M. Parks, Susan E. Hunt, Kathleen E. Castellote, Manuel Corkeron, Peter J. Nowacek, Douglas P. Wasser, Samuel K. Kraus, Scott D. 2012 http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2011.2429 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rspb.2011.2429 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full-xml/10.1098/rspb.2011.2429 en eng The Royal Society https://royalsociety.org/journals/ethics-policies/data-sharing-mining/ Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences volume 279, issue 1737, page 2363-2368 ISSN 0962-8452 1471-2954 journal-article 2012 crroyalsociety https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2011.2429 2024-09-02T04:21:00Z Baleen whales ( Mysticeti ) communicate using low-frequency acoustic signals. These long-wavelength sounds can be detected over hundreds of kilometres, potentially allowing contact over large distances. Low-frequency noise from large ships (20–200 Hz) overlaps acoustic signals used by baleen whales, and increased levels of underwater noise have been documented in areas with high shipping traffic. Reported responses of whales to increased noise include: habitat displacement, behavioural changes and alterations in the intensity, frequency and intervals of calls. However, it has been unclear whether exposure to noise results in physiological responses that may lead to significant consequences for individuals or populations. Here, we show that reduced ship traffic in the Bay of Fundy, Canada, following the events of 11 September 2001, resulted in a 6 dB decrease in underwater noise with a significant reduction below 150 Hz. This noise reduction was associated with decreased baseline levels of stress-related faecal hormone metabolites (glucocorticoids) in North Atlantic right whales ( Eubalaena glacialis ). This is the first evidence that exposure to low-frequency ship noise may be associated with chronic stress in whales, and has implications for all baleen whales in heavy ship traffic areas, and for recovery of this endangered right whale population. Article in Journal/Newspaper baleen whales Eubalaena glacialis North Atlantic The Royal Society Canada Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 279 1737 2363 2368 |
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crroyalsociety |
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English |
description |
Baleen whales ( Mysticeti ) communicate using low-frequency acoustic signals. These long-wavelength sounds can be detected over hundreds of kilometres, potentially allowing contact over large distances. Low-frequency noise from large ships (20–200 Hz) overlaps acoustic signals used by baleen whales, and increased levels of underwater noise have been documented in areas with high shipping traffic. Reported responses of whales to increased noise include: habitat displacement, behavioural changes and alterations in the intensity, frequency and intervals of calls. However, it has been unclear whether exposure to noise results in physiological responses that may lead to significant consequences for individuals or populations. Here, we show that reduced ship traffic in the Bay of Fundy, Canada, following the events of 11 September 2001, resulted in a 6 dB decrease in underwater noise with a significant reduction below 150 Hz. This noise reduction was associated with decreased baseline levels of stress-related faecal hormone metabolites (glucocorticoids) in North Atlantic right whales ( Eubalaena glacialis ). This is the first evidence that exposure to low-frequency ship noise may be associated with chronic stress in whales, and has implications for all baleen whales in heavy ship traffic areas, and for recovery of this endangered right whale population. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Rolland, Rosalind M. Parks, Susan E. Hunt, Kathleen E. Castellote, Manuel Corkeron, Peter J. Nowacek, Douglas P. Wasser, Samuel K. Kraus, Scott D. |
spellingShingle |
Rolland, Rosalind M. Parks, Susan E. Hunt, Kathleen E. Castellote, Manuel Corkeron, Peter J. Nowacek, Douglas P. Wasser, Samuel K. Kraus, Scott D. Evidence that ship noise increases stress in right whales |
author_facet |
Rolland, Rosalind M. Parks, Susan E. Hunt, Kathleen E. Castellote, Manuel Corkeron, Peter J. Nowacek, Douglas P. Wasser, Samuel K. Kraus, Scott D. |
author_sort |
Rolland, Rosalind M. |
title |
Evidence that ship noise increases stress in right whales |
title_short |
Evidence that ship noise increases stress in right whales |
title_full |
Evidence that ship noise increases stress in right whales |
title_fullStr |
Evidence that ship noise increases stress in right whales |
title_full_unstemmed |
Evidence that ship noise increases stress in right whales |
title_sort |
evidence that ship noise increases stress in right whales |
publisher |
The Royal Society |
publishDate |
2012 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2011.2429 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rspb.2011.2429 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full-xml/10.1098/rspb.2011.2429 |
geographic |
Canada |
geographic_facet |
Canada |
genre |
baleen whales Eubalaena glacialis North Atlantic |
genre_facet |
baleen whales Eubalaena glacialis North Atlantic |
op_source |
Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences volume 279, issue 1737, page 2363-2368 ISSN 0962-8452 1471-2954 |
op_rights |
https://royalsociety.org/journals/ethics-policies/data-sharing-mining/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2011.2429 |
container_title |
Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences |
container_volume |
279 |
container_issue |
1737 |
container_start_page |
2363 |
op_container_end_page |
2368 |
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1811636828613115904 |