Behavioral Response of Dolphins to Signals Simulating Mid-Frequency Sonar
Abstract
The ultimate goal of this behavioral response study, which includes dolphin and sea lion subjects, is to provide data on the response of marine mammals to the exposure of sonar-like signals across a range of receive levels. The study is designed to provide data for risk functions used by the United States Navy in predictions of harassment as defined under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The specific objectives of this effort are as follows: (1) determine the occurrence and magnitude of behavioral responses observed in bottlenose dolphins exposed to variable levels of mid-frequency (approx. 3 kHz) sounds similar to tactical sonar signals; (2) apply a scoring analysis to qualitative descriptors of the observed responses; (3) calculate a behavioral dose-response function (DRF) for delphinid and otariid species exposed to mid-frequency signals; (4) record heart rate on a subset of the dolphins and sea lions involved in the behavioral response study to determine whether an acute stress response occurs in response to the mid-frequency sound exposure (the response will be related to the exposure characteristics of the sound received by the animal to determine if there is a relationship between the sound exposure and the magnitude and duration of the response); and (5) collect blood samples from a subset of the dolphins prior to, immediately following, and for several days/weeks following the sound exposure. Blood collection will be analyzed for cortisol and aldosterone and inspected for parallelism to determine whether a prolonged stress response is triggered by the sound exposure event. In addition, samples will be analyzed for epinephrine to determine if an acute stress response occurs following sound exposure.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA531237
Entities
People
- Dorian S. Houser
- James J Finneran
- Laura Yeates
Organizations
- Naval Information Warfare Systems Command