A behavioural dose-response model for migrating humpback whales and seismic air gun noise

作者：Dunlop Rebecca A^*; Noad Michael J; McCauley Robert D; Kniest Eric; Slade Robert; Paton David; Cato Douglas H

来源：Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2018, 133: 506-516.

DOI：10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.06.009

• Seismic mitigation
• Acoustic exposure
• Behavioural response study
• Marine mammals
• Anthropogenic noise

The behavioural responses of migrating humpback whales to an air gun, a small clustered seismic array and a commercial array were used to develop a dose-response model, accounting for the presence of the vessel, array towpath relative to the migration and social and environmental parameters. Whale groups were more likely to show an avoidance response (increasing their distance from the source) when the received sound exposure level was over 130 dB re 1 mu Pa-2.s and they were within 4 km of the source. The 50% probability of response occurred where received levels were 150-155 dB re 1 mu Pa-2.s and they were within 2.5 km of the source. A small number of whales moving rapidly close to the source vessel did not exhibit an avoidance response at the highest received levels (160-170 dB re 1 mu Pa-2.s) meaning it was not possible to estimate the maximum response threshold.

• 出版日期2018-8