Southern right whales show no behavioral response to low noise levels from a nearby unmanned aerial vehicle
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are increasingly used for wildlife research and monitoring, but little information exists on their potential effect on marine mammals. We assessed the effects of a UAV on the behavior of southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) in Australia. Focal follows of ten ri...
Published in: | Marine Mammal Science |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Wiley
2020
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12699 https://researchportal.murdoch.edu.au/esploro/outputs/journalArticle/Southern-right-whales-show-no-behavioral/991005541257807891 |
id |
ftmurdochunivall:oai:alma.61MUN_INST:11135395110007891 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftmurdochunivall:oai:alma.61MUN_INST:11135395110007891 2024-09-15T17:57:25+00:00 Southern right whales show no behavioral response to low noise levels from a nearby unmanned aerial vehicle Christiansen, F. Nielsen, M.L.K. Charlton, C. Bejder, L. Madsen, P.T. 2020 https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12699 https://researchportal.murdoch.edu.au/esploro/outputs/journalArticle/Southern-right-whales-show-no-behavioral/991005541257807891 eng eng Wiley ispartof: Marine Mammal Science spage 953 epage 963 issue 3 vol 36 doi:10.1111/mms.12699 WOS:000531881300001 0824-0469 https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12699 991005541257807891 https://researchportal.murdoch.edu.au/esploro/outputs/journalArticle/Southern-right-whales-show-no-behavioral/991005541257807891 alma:61MUN_INST/bibs/991005541257807891 © 2020 Society for Marine Mammalogy text Article 2020 ftmurdochunivall https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12699 2024-08-15T00:52:50Z Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are increasingly used for wildlife research and monitoring, but little information exists on their potential effect on marine mammals. We assessed the effects of a UAV on the behavior of southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) in Australia. Focal follows of ten right whale mother‐calf pairs were conducted using a theodolite. Control data were recorded for 30 min, and then a DJI Inspire 1 Pro was flown above the whales for 10 min at 5 m altitude. Potential changes to horizontal behavior (swim speed and turning angle) and surfacing pattern (interbreath intervals) were investigated by comparing mother‐calf behavior before and during UAV approaches. Changes in respiration rate were used to quantify energetic effects. We also explored acoustic cue perceptibility of the UAV at 5, 10, and 30 m altitude, by measuring the received UAV underwater noise level on whales equipped with acoustic tags (DTAGs). The received noise levels were 86.0 ± 3.9 dB re 1 μPa, while the measured ambient noise was 80.7 ± 7.3 dB re 1 μPa in the same frequency band (100–1,500 Hz). No behavioral response to the UAV was observed. This provides support for UAVs as a noninvasive tool to study baleen whale behavior and ecophysiology. Article in Journal/Newspaper baleen whale Murdoch University Research Portal Marine Mammal Science 36 3 953 963 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Murdoch University Research Portal |
op_collection_id |
ftmurdochunivall |
language |
English |
description |
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are increasingly used for wildlife research and monitoring, but little information exists on their potential effect on marine mammals. We assessed the effects of a UAV on the behavior of southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) in Australia. Focal follows of ten right whale mother‐calf pairs were conducted using a theodolite. Control data were recorded for 30 min, and then a DJI Inspire 1 Pro was flown above the whales for 10 min at 5 m altitude. Potential changes to horizontal behavior (swim speed and turning angle) and surfacing pattern (interbreath intervals) were investigated by comparing mother‐calf behavior before and during UAV approaches. Changes in respiration rate were used to quantify energetic effects. We also explored acoustic cue perceptibility of the UAV at 5, 10, and 30 m altitude, by measuring the received UAV underwater noise level on whales equipped with acoustic tags (DTAGs). The received noise levels were 86.0 ± 3.9 dB re 1 μPa, while the measured ambient noise was 80.7 ± 7.3 dB re 1 μPa in the same frequency band (100–1,500 Hz). No behavioral response to the UAV was observed. This provides support for UAVs as a noninvasive tool to study baleen whale behavior and ecophysiology. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Christiansen, F. Nielsen, M.L.K. Charlton, C. Bejder, L. Madsen, P.T. |
spellingShingle |
Christiansen, F. Nielsen, M.L.K. Charlton, C. Bejder, L. Madsen, P.T. Southern right whales show no behavioral response to low noise levels from a nearby unmanned aerial vehicle |
author_facet |
Christiansen, F. Nielsen, M.L.K. Charlton, C. Bejder, L. Madsen, P.T. |
author_sort |
Christiansen, F. |
title |
Southern right whales show no behavioral response to low noise levels from a nearby unmanned aerial vehicle |
title_short |
Southern right whales show no behavioral response to low noise levels from a nearby unmanned aerial vehicle |
title_full |
Southern right whales show no behavioral response to low noise levels from a nearby unmanned aerial vehicle |
title_fullStr |
Southern right whales show no behavioral response to low noise levels from a nearby unmanned aerial vehicle |
title_full_unstemmed |
Southern right whales show no behavioral response to low noise levels from a nearby unmanned aerial vehicle |
title_sort |
southern right whales show no behavioral response to low noise levels from a nearby unmanned aerial vehicle |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2020 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12699 https://researchportal.murdoch.edu.au/esploro/outputs/journalArticle/Southern-right-whales-show-no-behavioral/991005541257807891 |
genre |
baleen whale |
genre_facet |
baleen whale |
op_relation |
ispartof: Marine Mammal Science spage 953 epage 963 issue 3 vol 36 doi:10.1111/mms.12699 WOS:000531881300001 0824-0469 https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12699 991005541257807891 https://researchportal.murdoch.edu.au/esploro/outputs/journalArticle/Southern-right-whales-show-no-behavioral/991005541257807891 alma:61MUN_INST/bibs/991005541257807891 |
op_rights |
© 2020 Society for Marine Mammalogy |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12699 |
container_title |
Marine Mammal Science |
container_volume |
36 |
container_issue |
3 |
container_start_page |
953 |
op_container_end_page |
963 |
_version_ |
1810433567817203712 |