Cross-regional comparisons of offshore soundscape predictors and vessel noise impacts on marine mammals and fishes
Abstract
AbstractApproved for Public ReleasePassive acoustic monitoring provides vital information to understand how ambient soundscapes andacoustic communication pathways are altered by dynamic changes in ocean processes, including those tied to climate change and anthropogenic activities. Passive acoustic datasets available from the Acoustic and Environmental Observation Network (AEON) in the Gulf of Maine and Atlantic Deepwater Ecosystem Observatory Network (ADEON) in the U.S. Mid- and South Atlantic Bight offer a wealth of opportunities to enhance understanding of non-acoustic drivers of spatial and temporal variability of soundscapes, and to observe and explain regional differences in soundscape patterns along the U.S. East Coast. The extensive spatial coverage of these acoustic networks and overlap with major shipping lanes also allows large-scale analysis of vessel noise impacts on hearing and communication of protected and managed species. By analyzing existing AEON and ADEON datasets, this project will investigate how non-acoustic oceanographic variables influence offshore soundscapes and will model masking effects of vessel noise on mammals and fishes. Initial focus will be in the AEON region, then results will be compared with previous analyses performed for the ADEON region. Soundscape data will be processed to output sound pressure and acoustic particle motion to obtain directional information and to maximize applicabilityof data across sound-sensitive animal taxa. Results from this study will provide baseline data on environmental variability in ambient soundscapes influenced by oceanography and human activity, which will inform the Navy#s requirement for thorough understanding of acoustic propagation and sensor performance in dynamic environments. Further, quantification of anthropogenic noise impacts on marine mammals, and on fishes which may serve as prey or compete with mammals for prey resources, falls within the Navy#s need for compliance with regulations mitigating impacts to marine mammal populations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 11, 2023
- Source ID
- N000142312749
Entities
People
- Ian Jones
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University System of New Hampshire