Effects of vessel traffic and ocean noise on gray whale stress hormones
Abstract Human use of marinescapes is rapidly increasing, especially in populated nearshore regions where recreational vessel traffic can be dense. Marine animals can have a physiological response to such elevated human activity that can impact individual health and population dynamics. To understan...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:792b7d4a1da6477b8154e233b9a5e14c 2023-05-15T15:37:10+02:00 Effects of vessel traffic and ocean noise on gray whale stress hormones Leila S. Lemos Joseph H. Haxel Amy Olsen Jonathan D. Burnett Angela Smith Todd E. Chandler Sharon L. Nieukirk Shawn E. Larson Kathleen E. Hunt Leigh G. Torres 2022-11-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-14510-5 https://doaj.org/article/792b7d4a1da6477b8154e233b9a5e14c EN eng Nature Portfolio https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-14510-5 https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322 doi:10.1038/s41598-022-14510-5 2045-2322 https://doaj.org/article/792b7d4a1da6477b8154e233b9a5e14c Scientific Reports, Vol 12, Iss 1, Pp 1-13 (2022) Medicine R Science Q article 2022 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-14510-5 2022-12-30T22:59:17Z Abstract Human use of marinescapes is rapidly increasing, especially in populated nearshore regions where recreational vessel traffic can be dense. Marine animals can have a physiological response to such elevated human activity that can impact individual health and population dynamics. To understand the physiological impacts of vessel traffic on baleen whales, we investigated the adrenal stress response of gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) to variable vessel traffic levels through an assessment of fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGC) concentrations. This analysis was conducted at the individual level, at multiple temporal scales (1–7 days), and accounted for factors that may confound fGC: sex, age, nutritional status, and reproductive state. Data were collected in Oregon, USA, from June to October of 2016–2018. Results indicate significant correlations between fGC, month, and vessel counts from the day prior to fecal sample collection. Furthermore, we show a significant positive correlation between vessel traffic and underwater ambient noise levels, which indicates that noise produced by vessel traffic may be a causal factor for the increased fGC. This study increases knowledge of gray whale physiological response to vessel traffic and may inform management decisions regarding regulations of vessel traffic activities and thresholds near critical whale habitats. Article in Journal/Newspaper baleen whales Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Scientific Reports 12 1 |
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Medicine R Science Q Leila S. Lemos Joseph H. Haxel Amy Olsen Jonathan D. Burnett Angela Smith Todd E. Chandler Sharon L. Nieukirk Shawn E. Larson Kathleen E. Hunt Leigh G. Torres Effects of vessel traffic and ocean noise on gray whale stress hormones |
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Medicine R Science Q |
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Abstract Human use of marinescapes is rapidly increasing, especially in populated nearshore regions where recreational vessel traffic can be dense. Marine animals can have a physiological response to such elevated human activity that can impact individual health and population dynamics. To understand the physiological impacts of vessel traffic on baleen whales, we investigated the adrenal stress response of gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) to variable vessel traffic levels through an assessment of fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGC) concentrations. This analysis was conducted at the individual level, at multiple temporal scales (1–7 days), and accounted for factors that may confound fGC: sex, age, nutritional status, and reproductive state. Data were collected in Oregon, USA, from June to October of 2016–2018. Results indicate significant correlations between fGC, month, and vessel counts from the day prior to fecal sample collection. Furthermore, we show a significant positive correlation between vessel traffic and underwater ambient noise levels, which indicates that noise produced by vessel traffic may be a causal factor for the increased fGC. This study increases knowledge of gray whale physiological response to vessel traffic and may inform management decisions regarding regulations of vessel traffic activities and thresholds near critical whale habitats. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Leila S. Lemos Joseph H. Haxel Amy Olsen Jonathan D. Burnett Angela Smith Todd E. Chandler Sharon L. Nieukirk Shawn E. Larson Kathleen E. Hunt Leigh G. Torres |
author_facet |
Leila S. Lemos Joseph H. Haxel Amy Olsen Jonathan D. Burnett Angela Smith Todd E. Chandler Sharon L. Nieukirk Shawn E. Larson Kathleen E. Hunt Leigh G. Torres |
author_sort |
Leila S. Lemos |
title |
Effects of vessel traffic and ocean noise on gray whale stress hormones |
title_short |
Effects of vessel traffic and ocean noise on gray whale stress hormones |
title_full |
Effects of vessel traffic and ocean noise on gray whale stress hormones |
title_fullStr |
Effects of vessel traffic and ocean noise on gray whale stress hormones |
title_full_unstemmed |
Effects of vessel traffic and ocean noise on gray whale stress hormones |
title_sort |
effects of vessel traffic and ocean noise on gray whale stress hormones |
publisher |
Nature Portfolio |
publishDate |
2022 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-14510-5 https://doaj.org/article/792b7d4a1da6477b8154e233b9a5e14c |
genre |
baleen whales |
genre_facet |
baleen whales |
op_source |
Scientific Reports, Vol 12, Iss 1, Pp 1-13 (2022) |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-14510-5 https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322 doi:10.1038/s41598-022-14510-5 2045-2322 https://doaj.org/article/792b7d4a1da6477b8154e233b9a5e14c |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-14510-5 |
container_title |
Scientific Reports |
container_volume |
12 |
container_issue |
1 |
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1766367627478827008 |