Detection Statistics for Cuvier's Beaked Whales and Blainville's Beaked Whales on the Marine Mammal Monitoring on Navy Ranges (M3R) System at the Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center (AUTEC)
Abstract
Several species of beaked whales appear to be particularly sensitive to mid-frequency active sonar (MFAS); Cox, et al. 2006; D'Amico, et al., 2009)). The U.S. Navy maintains an instrumented training range, the Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center (AUTEC) on which exercises are regularly conducted with MFAS, and where species including Blainville's beaked whales (Mesoplodon densirostris, hereafter Md), Cuvier's beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris, hereafter Zc), and Gervais beaked whales (Mesoplodon europeaus, hereafter Me) are routinely acoustically detected and visually observed (Gillespie et al. 2009, Tyack et al. 2011, McCarthy et al. 2011). Beaked whales have been shown to respond to sonar in variety of ways, including cessation of foraging and avoidance of the area (REFS- are there references that need to be entered?).The Marine Mammal Monitoring on Navy Ranges (M3R) program has collected a long term data set of acoustic detection archives at AUTEC to provide further insight into the distribution, vocal activity and habitat use of beaked whales on the range. The aim of this project is to use this dataset to evaluate the long-term temporal and spatial distribution and habitat use of beaked whales at AUTEC. This technical memo describes the derivation of detection statistics for two species of beaked whales at AUTEC, Zc and Md. These results are important for long-term monitoring of population abundances on the range.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 03, 2023
- Accession Number
- AD1223575
Entities
People
- Stephanie L. Watwood
Organizations
- Naval Undersea Warfare Center