Behavioral Responses of Odontocetes to Playback of Anthropogenic and Natural Sounds
Abstract
The long-term goal of this research project is to safely study responses of beaked whales to naval sounds in order to understand the causal chain of events leading from sound exposure to risks of stranding and to measure the exposure required to elicit responses that are safe but that indicate potential for risk. The project is designed to provide critical information required to develop measures to protect beaked and other whales from risk of exposure to sonar and other sounds. A critical objective for understanding possible links between sonar exposure and injury or stranding involves developing techniques to safely study how beaked whales respond to sound. This project has objectives to adapt, test and refine protocols for studying beaked whales using established sound playback experiment methods; to define responses of beaked whales and other species of odontocete whales to mid-frequency active (MFA) sonar and natural sounds such as those from killer whales; and to measure exposure parameters for sounds that evoke a behavioral response.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA506717
Entities
People
- Peter Tyack
Organizations
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution