Drones and marine mammals in Svalbard, Norway
Abstract The impact of remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) on marine mammals remains poorly documented despite their increasing use. In the high‐Arctic Archipelago of Svalbard, where marine mammals face increasing pressure from climate change and expanding tourism, the use of RPAS remains large...
Published in: | Marine Mammal Science |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Wiley
2021
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/mms.12802 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/mms.12802 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.1111/mms.12802 |
id |
crwiley:10.1111/mms.12802 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
crwiley:10.1111/mms.12802 2024-04-21T07:54:32+00:00 Drones and marine mammals in Svalbard, Norway Palomino‐González, Albert Kovacs, Kit M. Lydersen, Christian Ims, Rolf A. Lowther, Andrew D. 2021 http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/mms.12802 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/mms.12802 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.1111/mms.12802 en eng Wiley http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Marine Mammal Science volume 37, issue 4, page 1212-1229 ISSN 0824-0469 1748-7692 Aquatic Science Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics journal-article 2021 crwiley https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12802 2024-03-26T09:19:19Z Abstract The impact of remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) on marine mammals remains poorly documented despite their increasing use. In the high‐Arctic Archipelago of Svalbard, where marine mammals face increasing pressure from climate change and expanding tourism, the use of RPAS remains largely unregulated. In this study we assessed the impacts of RPAS across a range of species to provide science‐based management advice, using a variety of aircraft sizes and approach strategies. We explored RPAS sound levels and animal behavior prior to and after flights. Preexperimental alertness influenced sensitivity to disturbance notably. Harbor seals were more sensitive during prebreeding than during molting, reacting at distances of 80 m, whereas walruses responded at distances <50 m. Polar bears reacted to the sound of RPAS during take‐off at 300 m, although response levels were relatively low. White whales reacted to the sight of RPAS when flown ahead of the pod, below 15 m. Variations in sound levels typical in overhead descents and manual flights increased disturbance potential more than RPAS size; preprogrammed flight paths are advised. Our study highlights factors that can influence sensitivity to RPAS including tidal state and swell, the presence of young individuals, ambient noise levels, and RPAS approach strategies. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Archipelago Climate change Svalbard walrus* Wiley Online Library Marine Mammal Science |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Wiley Online Library |
op_collection_id |
crwiley |
language |
English |
topic |
Aquatic Science Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics |
spellingShingle |
Aquatic Science Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics Palomino‐González, Albert Kovacs, Kit M. Lydersen, Christian Ims, Rolf A. Lowther, Andrew D. Drones and marine mammals in Svalbard, Norway |
topic_facet |
Aquatic Science Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics |
description |
Abstract The impact of remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) on marine mammals remains poorly documented despite their increasing use. In the high‐Arctic Archipelago of Svalbard, where marine mammals face increasing pressure from climate change and expanding tourism, the use of RPAS remains largely unregulated. In this study we assessed the impacts of RPAS across a range of species to provide science‐based management advice, using a variety of aircraft sizes and approach strategies. We explored RPAS sound levels and animal behavior prior to and after flights. Preexperimental alertness influenced sensitivity to disturbance notably. Harbor seals were more sensitive during prebreeding than during molting, reacting at distances of 80 m, whereas walruses responded at distances <50 m. Polar bears reacted to the sound of RPAS during take‐off at 300 m, although response levels were relatively low. White whales reacted to the sight of RPAS when flown ahead of the pod, below 15 m. Variations in sound levels typical in overhead descents and manual flights increased disturbance potential more than RPAS size; preprogrammed flight paths are advised. Our study highlights factors that can influence sensitivity to RPAS including tidal state and swell, the presence of young individuals, ambient noise levels, and RPAS approach strategies. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Palomino‐González, Albert Kovacs, Kit M. Lydersen, Christian Ims, Rolf A. Lowther, Andrew D. |
author_facet |
Palomino‐González, Albert Kovacs, Kit M. Lydersen, Christian Ims, Rolf A. Lowther, Andrew D. |
author_sort |
Palomino‐González, Albert |
title |
Drones and marine mammals in Svalbard, Norway |
title_short |
Drones and marine mammals in Svalbard, Norway |
title_full |
Drones and marine mammals in Svalbard, Norway |
title_fullStr |
Drones and marine mammals in Svalbard, Norway |
title_full_unstemmed |
Drones and marine mammals in Svalbard, Norway |
title_sort |
drones and marine mammals in svalbard, norway |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/mms.12802 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/mms.12802 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.1111/mms.12802 |
genre |
Arctic Archipelago Climate change Svalbard walrus* |
genre_facet |
Arctic Archipelago Climate change Svalbard walrus* |
op_source |
Marine Mammal Science volume 37, issue 4, page 1212-1229 ISSN 0824-0469 1748-7692 |
op_rights |
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12802 |
container_title |
Marine Mammal Science |
_version_ |
1796937063068598272 |