Estimating received level in behavioral response studies through the use of ancillary data

Area of Science:

• Marine biology
• Bioacoustics
• Animal behavior

Background:

• Marine mammals react to anthropogenic noise, particularly military active sonar.
• Observed responses range from altered diving to mass strandings.
• Existing research primarily uses short-term tags, limiting long-term behavioral understanding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate marine mammal responses to sound over extended periods and diverse contexts.
• To develop and refine methods for estimating received sound levels for animals.
• To integrate data from multiple sources for a comprehensive analysis.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing the Atlantic Behavioral Response Study data.
• Employing vessel-based focal follows and short-term biologging tags.
• Integrating medium-term satellite tag positions with sound propagation models and ocean bathymetry.
• Accounting for positional and depth uncertainties in data analysis.

Main Results:

• A refined approach to estimate received sound pressure levels for marine mammals.
• Integration of diverse data streams including animal positions, depth, bathymetry, and acoustic models.
• Quantification of uncertainty in data to improve sound level estimations.

Conclusions:

• Improved estimation of sound exposure is crucial for understanding marine mammal behavioral responses.
• The study provides a more robust method for assessing impacts of sonar on marine life.
• This research supports better management and conservation strategies for marine mammals in noisy environments.