Passive Acoustic Monitoring of Arctic Cetaceans

Passive Acoustic Monitoring of Arctic Cetaceans
Author: Joshua M. Jones
Publisher:
Total Pages: 172
Release: 2021
Genre:
ISBN:

Arctic marine mammal habitats are changing rapidly while marine shipping is increasing in some areas of the Arctic. Passive acoustic monitoring can increase understanding of Arctic marine mammal responses to change and to stressors, like ship traffic. The strength of inference from underwater sound recordings is limited by several factors that I address in this dissertation with the aim of improving the usefulness of acoustic monitoring findings for Arctic marine resource management. I provide spatial context for acoustic detections of bowhead whale sounds, enabling direct comparisons of acoustic presence across different locations and environmental conditions. Ice cover and noise substantially reduce the predicted listening area around underwater sound recorders. Spatially normalized acoustic detections reveal that bowhead whales utilize an area at least 140 km north of Alaska during their spring migration, migrating through large areas of >90% sea ice cover. I describe acoustic characteristics of beluga and narwhal echolocation clicks, which differ substantially in frequency content and rhythmic patterns. Sound absorption by seawater and apparent changes in animal orientation strongly affect frequency spectra of recorded clicks. Finally, I measure the underwater soundscape within a narwhal summer habitat and quantify underwater noise added by commercial ship traffic. The natural soundscape, excluding periods with nearby ships, is relatively quiet in an acoustically sheltered fiord. Distant sounds from regional shipping are apparent at a less-sheltered location open to long-range sound propagation. When ships pass the recording locations, sound levels are elevated above the median levels of natural sounds for periods ranging from 30 minutes up to >4 hours with each transit. Icebreaker and tanker ships radiate more underwater noise than general cargo and bulk carrier ships. Ship sounds overlap with common social sounds produced by narwhals and ringed seals at distances of 5 to >30 km from passing ships, possibly interfering with animal communication. Improved detection distance estimates and understanding of detection probability estimation coupled with increased confidence in detection and identification of beluga, narwhal, and bowhead sounds will facilitate passive acoustic density estimation of Arctic marine mammals, investigation of their relationships with habitat, and studies of their behavioral responses to ship traffic.

Passive Acoustic Monitoring of Cetaceans

Passive Acoustic Monitoring of Cetaceans
Author: Walter M. X. Zimmer
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 367
Release: 2011-04-21
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1139498096

Passive acoustic monitoring is increasingly used by the scientific community to study, survey and census marine mammals, especially cetaceans, many of which are easier to hear than to see. PAM is also used to support efforts to mitigate potential negative effects of human activities such as ship traffic, military and civilian sonar and offshore exploration. Walter Zimmer provides an integrated approach to PAM, combining physical principles, discussion of technical tools and application-oriented concepts of operations. Additionally, relevant information and tools necessary to assess existing and future PAM systems are presented, with Matlab code used to generate figures and results so readers can reproduce data and modify code to analyse the impact of changes. This allows the principles to be studied whilst discovering potential difficulties and side effects. Aimed at graduate students and researchers, the book provides all information and tools necessary to gain a comprehensive understanding of this interdisciplinary subject.

Listening in the Ocean

Listening in the Ocean
Author: Whitlow W. L. Au
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 415
Release: 2016-02-25
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1493931768

This title brings to light the discoveries and insights into the lives of many marine species made possible over the last decade by passive acoustic recorders (PAR). Pop-ups, ARF, HARP, EAR, Bprobe, C-POD Atag, and Dtag are the acronyms of some of the many PARs that have changed our understanding of how marine animals live and strive in the ocean. Various types of PARs are used by different investigators in different areas of the world. These recorders have accumulated copious amounts of very important data, unveiling previously unknown information about large marine animals. Temporal, seasonal and spatial distribution patterns have been uncovered for many marine species. There have been many discoveries, new understandings and insights into how these animals live in and utilize the ocean and the importance of acoustics in their lives. Listening Within the Ocean summarizes these important discoveries, providing both a valuable resource for researchers and enjoyable reading for non-professionals interested in marine life.

Marine Mammal Observer and Passive Acoustic Monitoring Handbook

Marine Mammal Observer and Passive Acoustic Monitoring Handbook
Author: Victoria Todd
Publisher: Pelagic Publishing Ltd
Total Pages: 431
Release: 2015-03-18
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1907807705

Marine Mammal Observer and Passive Acoustic Monitoring Handbook is the ultimate instruction manual for mitigation measures to minimise man-made acoustical and physical disturbances to marine mammals from industrial and defence activities.

Marine Mammal Observer and Passive Acoustic Monitoring Handbook

Marine Mammal Observer and Passive Acoustic Monitoring Handbook
Author: Victoria Todd
Publisher: Pelagic Publishing Ltd
Total Pages: 572
Release: 2015-03-02
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1907807683

Marine Mammal Observer and Passive Acoustic Monitoring Handbook is the ultimate instruction manual for mitigation measures to minimise man-made acoustical and physical disturbances to marine mammals from industrial and defence activities. Based on more than two decades of offshore experience, and a decade of supplying MMO and PAM services (commercial and scientific), the Handbook is a long-overdue reference guide that seeks to improve standards worldwide for marine operations such as seismic and drilling exploration, wind farm and civil engineering piling, dredging, trenching, rock-dumping, hydrographical surveys, and military/defence exercises. By popular request, this manual will also form an accompaniment to MMO and PAM courses. The Handbook consolidates all aspects of this discipline into one easily accessible resource, to educate all stakeholders (e.g. MMOs, PAM operators, suppliers, recruitment agencies, clients, contractors, regulators, NGOs, consultants, scientists, academia and media), regardless of experience. Topics include worldwide legislation, compliance, anthropogenic noise sources and potential effects, training, offshore life, visual and acoustic monitoring (theory and practice), marine mammal distribution, hearing and vocalisations, and report writing. Advice is provided on implementing sensible and practical mitigation techniques, appropriate technologies, data collection, client and regulator liaison, and project kick-off meetings. "The Handbook is an indispensable How To guide to the growing and increasingly important occupation of marine mammal monitoring, written with clarity and humor by scientists who have extensive experience in this field." —Dr Phillip J. Clapham, world-renowned cetologist and Director of the Cetacean Assessment and Ecology Program at the National Marine Mammal Laboratory in Seattle.

Arctic Ocean Long-term Acoustic Monitoring

Arctic Ocean Long-term Acoustic Monitoring
Author: Ethan H. Roth
Publisher:
Total Pages: 100
Release: 2008
Genre:
ISBN:

The Arctic Ocean has experienced wide-spread decreases in sea ice concentrations that may impact various marine ecosystems. This study analyzes yearlong ocean acoustic recordings from north of Barrow, Alaska, to provide baseline measurements prior to possible increases in anthropogenic activities. In September 2006, two autonomous High-frequency Acoustic Recording Packages (HARPs) were deployed to the seafloor (250m), where sound was continuously recorded by hydrophones for nine months. Ice conditions during the recordings included open water, pack ice formation, shore-fast canopies, and thermal breakup, providing a wide range of Arctic Ocean acoustic measurements. Spectral-averaging was used to determine received sound-pressure levels. Across the low-frequency band, fall was the noisiest season, reaching 87dB re [mu]Pa between 20-60Hz, while 10% of October was exposed to noise above 130dB re [mu]Pa at 10Hz and 112dB re [mu]Pa between 20-30Hz; seismic airguns were present from September to November. Acoustic data was compared with sea ice concentration and wind speed; during summer and fall, sound-pressure spectrum levels correlate directly with high wind speeds, typically indicative of low-pressure atmospheric events. Throughout winter and spring, strong winds and thermal fracturing in sea ice opens leads, resulting in correlations with spectral energy-peaks. Bioacoustic recordings of cetaceans and pinnipeds were analyzed using long-term spectral-averages to determine presence or absence on an hourly basis. Combined with ancillary measurements, long-term acoustic monitoring is an effective tool for observing changing levels of ambient sound related to sea ice dynamics, environmental noise-generating mechanisms, and anthropogenic noise, while simultaneously detecting marine mammals.

Acoustic Monitoring of Beluga Whale Interactions with Cook Inlet Tidal Energy Project

Acoustic Monitoring of Beluga Whale Interactions with Cook Inlet Tidal Energy Project
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2014
Genre:
ISBN:

Cook Inlet, Alaska is home to some of the greatest tidal energy resources in the U.S., as well as an endangered population of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas). Successfully permitting and operating a tidal power project in Cook Inlet requires a biological assessment of the potential and realized effects of the physical presence and sound footprint of tidal turbines on the distribution, relative abundance, and behavior of Cook Inlet beluga whales. ORPC Alaska, working with the Project Team--LGL Alaska Research Associates, University of Alaska Anchorage, TerraSond, and Greeneridge Science--undertook the following U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) study to characterize beluga whales in Cook Inlet - Acoustic Monitoring of Beluga Whale Interactions with the Cook Inlet Tidal Energy Project (Project). ORPC Alaska, LLC, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ocean Renewable Power Company, LLC, (collectively, ORPC). ORPC is a global leader in the development of hydrokinetic power systems and eco-conscious projects that harness the power of ocean and river currents to create clean, predictable renewable energy. ORPC is developing a tidal energy demonstration project in Cook Inlet at East Foreland where ORPC has a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) preliminary permit (P-13821). The Project collected baseline data to characterize pre-deployment patterns of marine mammal distribution, relative abundance, and behavior in ORPC's proposed deployment area at East Foreland. ORPC also completed work near Fire Island where ORPC held a FERC preliminary permit (P-12679) until March 6, 2013. Passive hydroacoustic devices (previously utilized with bowhead whales in the Beaufort Sea) were adapted for study of beluga whales to determine the relative abundance of beluga whale vocalizations within the proposed deployment areas. Hydroacoustic data collected during the Project were used to characterize the ambient acoustic environment of the project site pre-deployment to inform the FERC pilot project process. The Project compared results obtained from this method to results obtained from other passive hydrophone technologies and to visual observation techniques performed simultaneously. This Final Report makes recommendations on the best practice for future data collection, for ORPC's work in Cook Inlet specifically, and for tidal power projects in general. This Project developed a marine mammal study design and compared technologies for hydroacoustic and visual data collection with potential for broad application to future tidal and hydrokinetic projects in other geographic areas. The data collected for this Project will support the environmental assessment of future Cook Inlet tidal energy projects, including ORPC's East Foreland Tidal Energy Project and any tidal energy developments at Fire Island. The Project's rigorous assessment of technology and methodologies will be invaluable to the hydrokinetic industry for developing projects in an environmentally sound and sustainable way for areas with high marine mammal activity or endangered populations. By combining several different sampling methods this Project will also contribute to the future preparation of a comprehensive biological assessment of ORPC's projects in Cook Inlet.

The Bowhead Whale

The Bowhead Whale
Author: J.C. George
Publisher: Academic Press
Total Pages: 669
Release: 2020-09-11
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0128189703

The Bowhead Whale: Balaena mysticetus: Biology and Human Interactions covers bowhead biology from their anatomy and behavior, to conservation, distribution, ecology and evolution. The book also discusses the biological and physical aspects of the Arctic ecosystem in which these whales live, with careful attention paid to the dramatic changes taking place. A special section of the book describes the interactions of humans with bowheads in past and present, focusing on their importance to Indigenous communities and the challenges regarding entanglement in fishing gear, industrial noise and ship strikes. This volume brings together the knowledge of bowheads in one place for easy reference for scientists that study the species, marine mammal biologists, but, equally important, for everyone who is interested in the Arctic. - Presents the only current book dedicated to this species - Includes short, high-impact chapters that make it possible to review all bowhead biology in one compact volume - Illustrated with never-before published photos of bowheads in their natural environment - Provides a platform for an in-depth understanding of indigenous whaling

Impacts of Environment-Dependent Acoustic Propagation on Passive Acoustic Monitoring of Cetaceans

Impacts of Environment-Dependent Acoustic Propagation on Passive Acoustic Monitoring of Cetaceans
Author: Carolyn M. Binder
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2018
Genre:
ISBN:

Significant effort has been made over the last few decades to develop automated passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) systems capable of classifying cetaceans at the species level; however, these systems often require tuning when deployed in different environments. Anecdotal evidence suggests that this requirement to adjust a PAM system's parameters is partially due to differences in the acoustic propagation characteristics. The environment-dependent propagation characteristics create variation in how a cetacean vocalization is distorted after it is emitted. If these differences are not accounted for it could reduce the performance of automated PAM systems. An aural classifier developed at Defence R&D Canada (DRDC) has been used successfully for inter-species discrimination of cetaceans; accurate results are obtained by using perceptual signal features that model the features employed by the human auditory system. In this thesis, a combination of an at-sea experiment and simulations with bowhead and humpback whale vocalizations was conducted to investigate the robustness of the classifier performance to signal distortion as a function of propagation range. It was found that in many environments, classification performance degraded with increasing range, largely due to decreased signal-to-noise ratio (SNR); however, in some environments as much as 40% of the performance reduction was attributed to signal distortion resulting from environment-dependent propagation. It was found that sound speed profiles resulting in considerable boundary interaction were important for producing sufficient signal distortion to affect PAM performance, relative to the impacts of SNR. Therefore, in some environments the ocean acoustic properties should be taken into account when characterizing performance of automated PAM systems. For the environments in which signal-to-noise issues dominate, the use of multi-element arrays is expected to increase the performance of automated recognition systems beyond the minor improvements to be gained from adjusting a PAM system's parameters. Nonetheless, propagation modelling should be used to complement PAM experiments to account for bias in probability of detection estimates resulting from environment-dependent acoustic propagation.