Behavioral responses of a harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) to playbacks of broadband pile driving sounds

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• 作者：Ronald A. Kastelein ; Dorianne van Heerden ; Robin Gransier ; Lean Hoek
• 关键词：Acoustics ; Behavior ; Coastal waters ; Conservation ; Disturbance ; Habitat ; Mammals ; Marine ecology ; Noise ; Odontocete ; Offshore
• 刊名：Marine Environmental Research
• 出版年：December, 2013
• 年：2013
• 卷：92
• 期：Complete
• 页码：206-214
• 全文大小：1320 K

文摘

The high under-water sound pressure levels (SPLs) produced during pile driving to build offshore wind turbines may affect harbor porpoises. To estimate the discomfort threshold of pile driving sounds, a porpoise in a quiet pool was exposed to playbacks (46聽strikes/min) at five SPLs (6聽dB steps: 130-154聽dB re 1聽渭Pa). The spectrum of the impulsive sound resembled the spectrum of pile driving sound at tens of kilometers from the pile driving location in shallow water such as that found in the North Sea. The animal's behavior during test and baseline periods was compared. At and above a received broadband SPL of 136聽dB re 1聽渭Pa [zero-peak sound pressure level: 151聽dB re 1聽渭Pa; t₉₀: 126聽ms; sound exposure level of a single strike (SEL_ss): 127聽dB re 1聽渭Pa²聽s] the porpoise's respiration rate increased in response to the pile driving sounds. At higher levels, he also jumped out of the water more often. Wild porpoises are expected to move tens of kilometers away from offshore pile driving locations; response distances will vary with context, the sounds' source level, parameters influencing sound propagation, and background noise levels.