3S2: Behavioral Response Studies of Cetaceans to Navy Sonar Signals in Norwegian Waters

Data on the responsiveness of cetaceans to sonar signals are lacking, with only a few species having been studied in relation to a few types of sonar signals, mostly SURTASS-LFA (Nowacek et al., 2007). Marine mammals have been shown to react to underwater noise (Richardson et al., 1995), and captive...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Miller, Patrick
Other Authors: SAINT ANDREWS UNIV (UNITED KINGDOM) GATTY MARINE LABORATORY
Format: Text
Language:English
Published: 2010
Subjects:
Biological Oceanography
Acoustic Detection and Detectors
*SONAR SIGNALS
*CETACEA
TABLES(DATA)
BEHAVIOR
UNDERWATER TRACKING
HEARING
MARINE BIOLOGICAL NOISE
ACOUSTIC DETECTION
RISK
MITIGATION PROTOCOL
NORTHERN BOTTLENOSE WHALE
MINKE WHALE
HUMPBACK WHALE
The Ramp
Humpback Whale
minke whale
Northern bottlenose whale
Online Access:http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA541473
http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA541473
Description
Summary:Data on the responsiveness of cetaceans to sonar signals are lacking, with only a few species having been studied in relation to a few types of sonar signals, mostly SURTASS-LFA (Nowacek et al., 2007). Marine mammals have been shown to react to underwater noise (Richardson et al., 1995), and captive research has documented hearing (Schlundt et al., 2000) and stress (Romano et al., 2004) effects at high received levels. To reduce the risk of behavioral or physiological effects, a number of mitigation protocols have been developed, such as shut-down procedures when animals are sighted nearby. Another mitigation protocol is the 'ramp-up' protocol in which source levels are gradually increased prior to the onset of full-level transmissions. This protocol is thought to give nearby animals some time to move away before sonar transmissions reach maximum levels. However, it is unknown whether or not this protocol is actually effective. In this research program, we will conduct primary research on these two knowledge gaps. First, we will address how two poorly-studied target species of wild cetaceans, that have been reported to strand during sonar exercises, respond to experimental presentations of sonar. Secondly, we will modify our existing 3S experimental design to assess experimentally whether 'ramp-up' is an effective protocol to reduce risk of harm.

Similar Items