3S(expn 2): Behavioral Response Studies of Cetaceans to Navy Sonar Signals in Norwegian Waters

• Main Author: Miller, Patrick
• Other Authors: SAINT ANDREWS UNIV (UNITED KINGDOM)
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: Biological Oceanography; Acoustic Detection and Detectors; Acoustics; *BEHAVIOR; *CETACEA; *SONAR; DATA ACQUISITION; NORWAY; STATISTICS; *NAVY SONAR; LFAS(LOW FREQUENCY ACTIVE SONAR); MFAS(MID FREQUENCY ACTIVE SONAR); NORTHERN BOTTLENOSE WHALES; MINKE WHALES; KILLER WHALE SOUNDS; HUMPBACK WHALES; Norway; The Ramp; Balaenoptera acutorostrata; hyperoodon ampullatus; Killer Whale; Megaptera novaeangliae; minke whale; Northern bottlenose whale; Killer whale
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA602555; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA602555

One primary goal of this international cooperative research program is to investigate behavioral reactions and the sound exposures required to elicit them of three species of whales: bottlenose whales, minke whales, and humpback whales to naval active sonar signals in the 1-10 kHz range. The results will be interpreted to generate dose-response functions in order to help establish safety limits for sonar operations for these species. Another primary goal of the program is to experimentally assess the effectiveness of ramp-up, a common mitigation protocol in which source levels are gradually increased prior to the onset of full-level transmissions. Ramp-up is designed 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 for animals in their natural environment. We have developed and implemented an experimental design to test whether the ramp-up procedure is an effective protocol to reduce risk of harm from sonar activities. In this research project, our specific objectives are to: 1.) Expand the 3S comparative experimental dataset to include species that are potentially more sensitive even if they are difficult to study: Northern bottlenose whale (Hyperoodon ampullatus, family Ziphiidae) and minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata, family Balaenopteridae). The goal is to identify behavioral response thresholds during exposure experiments, and to compare these to responses to no-sonar controls and playback of killer whale sounds; 2.) Conduct a directed study on the effectiveness of ramp-up as a mitigation method with abundant and relatively easy-to-study humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae, family Balaenopteridae); 3.) Record sufficient no-sonar baseline data of all target species to statistically compare experimental records with baseline records and to adequately describe the behavioral significance of recorded changes in behavior.