Noise collision Week 2 (Ocean noise and ship strike)

Question 1

Intended learning outcomes

Answer 1

Discuss the effects of ocean noise and ship strike on marine mammals

Question 2

The ocean soundscape

Answer 2

Made up of Geophysical, Anthropogenic and Biological components.

Question 3

Geophysical elements

Answer 3

Ice, wind, earthquakes

Question 4

Anthropogenic elements

Answer 4

Sonar, shipping, seismic airguns

Question 5

Biological elements

Answer 5

Fishes and whales

Question 6

What drives the soundscape?

Answer 6

Ocean processes, tectonics, climate and policy

Question 7

Increase in noise from anthropogenic activities

Answer 7

– Shipping
– Oil and gas exploration
– Renewable energy development (e.g. wind mills)
– Fishing
– Naval exercises

Question 8

Multiple effects of anthropogenic noise

Answer 8

• Exclusion from feeding and breeding habitats
  – Reduced ability to communicate
  – Changed communication and locomotive behaviour
  – Increased stress
  – Damage to hearing (if loud sounds)
  – Reduce ability to hear environmental cues that are vital for survival, e.g., avoiding predators, finding food, and navigation

Question 9

Measuring noise in the ocean

Answer 9

• Haver et al 2017
• Three recording stations
• Aug2009-Dec2010

Use syntactic foam flot, hydrophone and acoustic release

Question 10

Measuring noise in the ocean

Answer 10

Noise is everywhere, even during winter.
The amount and intensity of the sounds might depends on location. Artic vs equator.

Question 11

Estimating response to noise

Answer 11

• DeRuiter et al 2013
• Tags on two wild Cuvier’s beaked whale
• Sonar playback to observe behavioural response

Measured regular dive and dive when exposed to sonar playback. Needed to go up to the surface more times, took longer to acclimatise from the dive, sped up.

Question 12

Ship strike

Answer 12

• Hard to observe, so effect likely underestimated
• May be a major cause of mortality in some species and areas
• Degree of injury correlates with vessel speed

Question 13

North Atlantic right whale

Answer 13

• Not recovered from whaling; 300-400 animals
• Entanglement?
• Lack of food?
• Ship strikes?

Recent decline in population size
* Are ship strikes preventing recovery?
- possible solution: Compliance guide to avoid ship strike

Question 13

North Atlantic right whale

Answer 13

• Not recovered from whaling; 300-400 animals
• Entanglement?
• Lack of food?
• Ship strikes?

Recent decline in population size
* Are ship strikes preventing recovery?
- possible solution: Compliance guide to avoid ship strike

Question 14

Western Mediterranean

Answer 14

• 30% of global ship traffic, on 0.8% of ocean surface
• Population of 3000 fin whales
• 25-50% of all strandings linked to ship strike

Question 15

Vulnerability to shipping

Answer 15

• Hauser et al 2018
• Assessed vulnerability of Arctic marine mammals to noise, ship strike and habitat disturbance (breaking of ice)