Blue whales respond to simulated mid-frequency military sonar

• Published in: Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
• Main Authors: Goldbogen, Jeremy A., Southall, Brandon L., De Ruiter, Stacy Lynn, Calambokidis, John, Friedlaender, Ari S., Hazen, Elliott L., Falcone, Erin A., Schorr, Gregory S., Douglas, Annie, Moretti, David J., Kyburg, Chris, McKenna, Megan F., Tyack, Peter Lloyd
• Other Authors: Office of Naval Research, Naval Facilities Engineeering, University of St Andrews. School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of St Andrews. Centre for Research into Ecological & Environmental Modelling, University of St Andrews. School of Biology, University of St Andrews. Marine Alliance for Science & Technology Scotland, University of St Andrews. Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrews. Sound Tags Group, University of St Andrews. Bioacoustics group, University of St Andrews. Scottish Oceans Institute
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: Blue whale; Military sonar; Underwater noise; Sensory ecology; Foraging; Bio-logging; QH301 Biology; QH301; Balaenoptera musculus; baleen whale; toothed whales
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10023/3837; https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2013.0657; http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/280/1765/20130657

Mid-frequency military (1–10 kHz) sonars have been associated with lethal mass strandings of deep-diving toothed whales, but the effects on endangered baleen whale species are virtually unknown. Here, we used controlled exposure experiments with simulated military sonar and other mid-frequency sounds to measure behavioural responses of tagged blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) in feeding areas within the Southern California Bight. Despite using source levels orders of magnitude below some operational military systems, our results demonstrate that mid-frequency sound can significantly affect blue whale behaviour, especially during deep feeding modes. When a response occurred, behavioural changes varied widely from cessation of deep feeding to increased swimming speed and directed travel away from the sound source. The variability of these behavioural responses was largely influenced by a complex interaction of behavioural state, the type of mid-frequency sound and received sound level. Sonar-induced disruption of feeding and displacement from high-quality prey patches could have significant and previously undocumented impacts on baleen whale foraging ecology, individual fitness and population health. Publisher PDF Peer reviewed