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Transmission loss in manatee habitats
Jennifer L Miksis-Olds1, James H Miller
1Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, Rhode Island 02882, USA. jmiksis@umassd.edu
The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
|October 31, 2006
Summary
Florida manatees may select seagrass beds based on sound transmission loss, not just food availability. Higher frequencies are lost more in high-use areas, influencing manatee habitat choice.
Area of Science:
- Marine Biology
- Acoustics
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Florida manatees inhabit coastal areas with significant human-induced noise from vessel traffic.
- Understanding the manatee's acoustic environment is crucial for assessing responses to environmental changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify acoustic properties of manatee habitats.
- To investigate the relationship between sound transmission loss and manatee presence in seagrass beds.
Main Methods:
- Transmission loss measurements were conducted at 24 sites selected for manatee presence.
- The Monterey-Miami Parabolic Equation model was used to analyze environmental parameters and sound transmission.
- Model accuracy was validated through field tests.
Main Results:
- High-use seagrass beds exhibited greater transmission loss for frequencies above 2 kHz compared to low-use sites.
- This frequency range is important for sound propagation and manatee vocalizations.
- No significant correlation was found between manatee usage and seagrass coverage or species composition.
Conclusions:
- Acoustic environment, specifically sound transmission loss, may be a more significant factor in manatee habitat selection than seagrass characteristics.
- Findings suggest that manatees may prioritize acoustic properties when choosing foraging grounds.
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