When the noise goes on: received sound energy predicts sperm whale responses to both intermittent and continuous navy sonar.

ABSTRACT: Anthropogenic noise sources range from intermittent to continuous, with seismic and navy sonar technology moving towards near-continuous transmissions. Continuous active sonar (CAS) may be used at a lower amplitude than traditional pulsed active sonar (PAS), but potentially with greater cumulative sound energy. We conducted at-sea experiments to contrast the effects of navy PAS versus CAS on sperm whale behaviour using animal-attached sound- and movement-recording tags (n=16 individuals) in Norway. Changes in foraging effort and proxies for foraging success and cost during sonar and control exposures were assessed while accounting for baseline variation [individual effects, time of day, bathymetry and blackfish (pilot/killer whale) presence] in generalized additive mixed models (GAM

SUBMITTER: Isojunno S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7157582 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature