Applicability of Information Theory to the Quantification of Responses to Anthropogenic Noise by Southeast Alaskan Humpback Whales
We assess the effectiveness of applying information theory to the characterization and quantification of the affects of anthropogenic vessel noise on humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) vocal behavior in and around Glacier Bay, Alaska. Vessel noise has the potential to interfere with the complex...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:0448c8ed5de9433791829bd0d3983710 2023-05-15T16:20:35+02:00 Applicability of Information Theory to the Quantification of Responses to Anthropogenic Noise by Southeast Alaskan Humpback Whales J. Ellen Blue Taylor Bucci Christopher Chyba Sean F. Hanser Brenda McCowan Laurance R. Doyle 2008-05-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.3390/entropy-e10020033 https://doaj.org/article/0448c8ed5de9433791829bd0d3983710 EN eng MDPI AG http://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/10/2/33/ https://doaj.org/toc/1099-4300 doi:10.3390/entropy-e10020033 1099-4300 https://doaj.org/article/0448c8ed5de9433791829bd0d3983710 Entropy, Vol 10, Iss 2, Pp 33-46 (2008) Information theory humpback whales anthropogenic noise vocal behavior wildlife conservation Science Q Astrophysics QB460-466 Physics QC1-999 article 2008 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.3390/entropy-e10020033 2023-01-08T01:28:18Z We assess the effectiveness of applying information theory to the characterization and quantification of the affects of anthropogenic vessel noise on humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) vocal behavior in and around Glacier Bay, Alaska. Vessel noise has the potential to interfere with the complex vocal behavior of these humpback whales which could have direct consequences on their feeding behavior and thus ultimately on their health and reproduction. Humpback whale feeding calls recorded during conditions of high vessel-generated noise and lower levels of background noise are compared for differences in acoustic structure, use, and organization using information theoretic measures. We apply information theory in a self-referential manner (i.e., orders of entropy) to quantify the changes in signaling behavior. We then compare this with the reduction in channel capacity due to noise in Glacier Bay itself treating it as a (Gaussian) noisy channel. We find that high vessel noise is associated with an increase in the rate and repetitiveness of sequential use of feeding call types in our averaged sample of humpback whale vocalizations, indicating that vessel noise may be modifying the patterns of use of feeding calls by the endangered humpback whales in Southeast Alaska. The information theoretic approach suggested herein can make a reliable quantitative measure of such relationships and may also be adapted for wider application to many species where environmental noise is thought to be a problem. Article in Journal/Newspaper glacier Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae Alaska Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Glacier Bay Entropy 10 2 33 46 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Information theory humpback whales anthropogenic noise vocal behavior wildlife conservation Science Q Astrophysics QB460-466 Physics QC1-999 |
spellingShingle |
Information theory humpback whales anthropogenic noise vocal behavior wildlife conservation Science Q Astrophysics QB460-466 Physics QC1-999 J. Ellen Blue Taylor Bucci Christopher Chyba Sean F. Hanser Brenda McCowan Laurance R. Doyle Applicability of Information Theory to the Quantification of Responses to Anthropogenic Noise by Southeast Alaskan Humpback Whales |
topic_facet |
Information theory humpback whales anthropogenic noise vocal behavior wildlife conservation Science Q Astrophysics QB460-466 Physics QC1-999 |
description |
We assess the effectiveness of applying information theory to the characterization and quantification of the affects of anthropogenic vessel noise on humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) vocal behavior in and around Glacier Bay, Alaska. Vessel noise has the potential to interfere with the complex vocal behavior of these humpback whales which could have direct consequences on their feeding behavior and thus ultimately on their health and reproduction. Humpback whale feeding calls recorded during conditions of high vessel-generated noise and lower levels of background noise are compared for differences in acoustic structure, use, and organization using information theoretic measures. We apply information theory in a self-referential manner (i.e., orders of entropy) to quantify the changes in signaling behavior. We then compare this with the reduction in channel capacity due to noise in Glacier Bay itself treating it as a (Gaussian) noisy channel. We find that high vessel noise is associated with an increase in the rate and repetitiveness of sequential use of feeding call types in our averaged sample of humpback whale vocalizations, indicating that vessel noise may be modifying the patterns of use of feeding calls by the endangered humpback whales in Southeast Alaska. The information theoretic approach suggested herein can make a reliable quantitative measure of such relationships and may also be adapted for wider application to many species where environmental noise is thought to be a problem. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
J. Ellen Blue Taylor Bucci Christopher Chyba Sean F. Hanser Brenda McCowan Laurance R. Doyle |
author_facet |
J. Ellen Blue Taylor Bucci Christopher Chyba Sean F. Hanser Brenda McCowan Laurance R. Doyle |
author_sort |
J. Ellen Blue |
title |
Applicability of Information Theory to the Quantification of Responses to Anthropogenic Noise by Southeast Alaskan Humpback Whales |
title_short |
Applicability of Information Theory to the Quantification of Responses to Anthropogenic Noise by Southeast Alaskan Humpback Whales |
title_full |
Applicability of Information Theory to the Quantification of Responses to Anthropogenic Noise by Southeast Alaskan Humpback Whales |
title_fullStr |
Applicability of Information Theory to the Quantification of Responses to Anthropogenic Noise by Southeast Alaskan Humpback Whales |
title_full_unstemmed |
Applicability of Information Theory to the Quantification of Responses to Anthropogenic Noise by Southeast Alaskan Humpback Whales |
title_sort |
applicability of information theory to the quantification of responses to anthropogenic noise by southeast alaskan humpback whales |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
publishDate |
2008 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3390/entropy-e10020033 https://doaj.org/article/0448c8ed5de9433791829bd0d3983710 |
geographic |
Glacier Bay |
geographic_facet |
Glacier Bay |
genre |
glacier Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae Alaska |
genre_facet |
glacier Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae Alaska |
op_source |
Entropy, Vol 10, Iss 2, Pp 33-46 (2008) |
op_relation |
http://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/10/2/33/ https://doaj.org/toc/1099-4300 doi:10.3390/entropy-e10020033 1099-4300 https://doaj.org/article/0448c8ed5de9433791829bd0d3983710 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3390/entropy-e10020033 |
container_title |
Entropy |
container_volume |
10 |
container_issue |
2 |
container_start_page |
33 |
op_container_end_page |
46 |
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1766008508784836608 |