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Wilson KC, Širović A, Semmens BX, Gittings SR, Pattengill-Semmens CV, McCoy C. Grouper source levels and aggregation dynamics inferred from passive acoustic localization at a multispecies spawning site. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2022; 151:3052. [PMID: 35649949 DOI: 10.1121/10.0010236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Four species of grouper (family Epinephlidae), Red Hind (Epinephelus guttatus), Nassau (Epinephelus striatus), Black (Mycteroperca bonaci), and Yellowfin Grouper (Mycteroperca venenosa) share an aggregation site in Little Cayman, Cayman Islands and produce sounds while aggregating. Continuous observation of these aggregations is challenging because traditional diver or ship-based methods are limited in time and space. Passive acoustic localization can overcome this challenge for sound-producing species, allowing observations over long durations and at fine spatial scales. A hydrophone array was deployed in February 2017 over a 9-day period that included Nassau Grouper spawning. Passive acoustic localization was used to find positions of the grouper-produced calls recorded during this time, which enabled the measurement of call source levels and evaluation of spatiotemporal aspects of calling. Yellowfin Grouper had the lowest mean peak-to-peak (PP) call source level, and Nassau Grouper had the highest mean PP call source level (143.7 and 155.2 dB re: 1 μPa at 1 m for 70-170 Hz, respectively). During the days that Nassau Grouper spawned, calling peaked after sunset. Similarly, when Red Hind calls were abundant, calls were highest in the afternoon and evening. The measured source levels can be used to estimate communication and detection ranges and implement passive acoustic density estimation for these fishes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine C Wilson
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Ana Širović
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Brice X Semmens
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Stephen R Gittings
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, USA
| | | | - Croy McCoy
- Reef Environmental Education Foundation, Key Largo, Florida 33037, USA
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2
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Bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus) vocalizations across seasons and habitat types in Svalbard, Norway. Polar Biol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-021-02874-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
AbstractMale bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) use vocal displays to attract females and to compete with other males during the mating season. This makes it possible to monitor breeding populations of this species using passive acoustic monitoring (PAM). This study analysed year-round acoustic data records from AURAL instruments in Svalbard (Norway) to investigate seasonal variation in the acoustic presence of male bearded seals and the phenology of different call types (long, step and sweep trills) at three sites representing a variety of habitats with varied ice conditions. Male bearded seals vocalized for an extended period at a drift-ice site (Atwain; January–July) north of Spitsbergen, while the vocal season was shorter at a High Arctic land-fast-ice site (Rijpfjorden; February–June) and shorter yet again at a west-coast site that has undergone dramatic reductions in sea ice cover over the last 1.5 decades (Kongsfjorden; April–June). Generalized Additive Models showed marked seasonal segregation in the use of different trill types at Atwain, where call rates reached 400 per h, with long trills being the most numerous call type. Modest segregation of trill types was seen at Rijpfjorden, where call rates reached 300 per h, and no segregation occurred in Kongsfjorden (peak call rate 80 per h). Sea ice cover was available throughout the vocal season at Atwain and Rijpfjorden, while at Kongsfjorden peak vocal activity (May–June) occurred after the sea ice disappeared. Ongoing climate warming and sea ice reductions will likely increase the incidence of such mismatches and reduce breeding habitat for bearded seals.
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Fournet MEH, Silvestri M, Clark CW, Klinck H, Rice AN. Limited vocal compensation for elevated ambient noise in bearded seals: implications for an industrializing Arctic Ocean. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20202712. [PMID: 33622137 PMCID: PMC7934916 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.2712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Vocalizing animals have several strategies to compensate for elevated ambient noise. These behaviours evolved under historical conditions, but compensation limits are quickly being reached in the Anthropocene. Acoustic communication is essential to male bearded seals that vocalize for courtship and defending territories. As Arctic sea ice declines, industrial activities and associated anthropogenic noise are likely to increase. Documenting how seals respond to noise and identifying naturally occurring behavioural thresholds would indicate either their resilience or vulnerability to changing soundscapes. We investigated whether male bearded seals modified call amplitudes in response to changing ambient noise levels. Vocalizing seals increased their call amplitudes until ambient noise levels reached an observable threshold, above which call source levels stopped increasing. The presence of a threshold indicates limited noise compensation for seals, which still renders them vulnerable to acoustic masking of vocal signals. This behavioural threshold and response to noise is critical for developing management plans for an industrializing Arctic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle E. H. Fournet
- Center for Conservation Bioacoustics, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Margherita Silvestri
- Department of Environmental Biology, Marine Ecology Lab, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università 32, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Christopher W. Clark
- Center for Conservation Bioacoustics, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Holger Klinck
- Center for Conservation Bioacoustics, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
- Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Newport, OR 97365, USA
| | - Aaron N. Rice
- Center for Conservation Bioacoustics, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
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4
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Movement, diving, and haul-out behaviors of juvenile bearded seals in the Bering, Chukchi and Beaufort seas, 2014–2018. Polar Biol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-020-02710-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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5
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de Vincenzi G, Parisi I, Torri M, Papale E, Mazzola S, Nuth C, Buscaino G. Influence of environmental parameters on the use and spatiotemporal distribution of the vocalizations of bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) in Kongsfjorden, Spitsbergen. Polar Biol 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-019-02514-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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6
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Abstract
The great increase in the study of dog cognition in the current century has yielded insights into canine cognition in a variety of domains. In this review, we seek to place our enhanced understanding of canine cognition into context. We argue that in order to assess dog cognition, we need to regard dogs from three different perspectives: phylogenetically, as carnivoran and specifically a canid; ecologically, as social, cursorial hunters; and anthropogenically, as a domestic animal. A principled understanding of canine cognition should therefore involve comparing dogs' cognition with that of other carnivorans, other social hunters, and other domestic animals. This paper contrasts dog cognition with what is known about cognition in species that fit into these three categories, with a particular emphasis on wolves, cats, spotted hyenas, chimpanzees, dolphins, horses, and pigeons. We cover sensory cognition, physical cognition, spatial cognition, social cognition, and self-awareness. Although the comparisons are incomplete, because of the limited range of studies of some of the other relevant species, we conclude that dog cognition is influenced by the membership of all three of these groups, and taking all three groups into account, dog cognition does not look exceptional.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen E G Lea
- Department of Psychology, University of Exeter, Washington Singer Laboratories, Exeter, EX4 4QG, UK.
| | - Britta Osthaus
- School of Psychology, Politics and Sociology, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, CT1 1QU, UK
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Hamilton CD, Kovacs KM, Lydersen C. Individual variability in diving, movement and activity patterns of adult bearded seals in Svalbard, Norway. Sci Rep 2018; 8:16988. [PMID: 30451906 PMCID: PMC6242851 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-35306-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2018] [Accepted: 11/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Bearded seals are one of the least studied Arctic marine mammals, despite their circumpolar distribution and importance as a resource to Inuit communities. In this study, adult bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) were equipped with GPS-Argos-CTD-SRDLs in Svalbard, Norway (2011-2012, n = 7) to document their diving, activity and movement patterns in a region where their habitat is changing rapidly. Five seals transmitted for > 8 months, sending 21,738 GPS-positions and 17,866 dives between July and April. The seals spent little time hauled out (≤ 5%). Diving, which occupied 74 ± 3% of their time, was generally shallow (24 ± 7 m, max: 391 m) and of short duration (6.6 ± 1.5 min, max: 24 min) with deeper, longer dives in winter/spring compared to summer. All seals occupied shallow, coastal areas and relatively small 50% home ranges (10-32 km2). However, individuals exhibited high degrees of specialization in their habitat use and diving behaviour, differing markedly with respect to proportions of benthic vs pelagic dives (range: 51-95% benthic dives), distance to glacier fronts (range: 3-22 km) and in the time spent at the bottom of dives (range: 43-77%). Having specialized strategies within a generalist population may help bearded seals adapt in a rapidly changing Arctic ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kit M Kovacs
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, N-9296, Tromsø, Norway
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De Vreese S, van der Schaar M, Weissenberger J, Erbs F, Kosecka M, Solé M, André M. Marine mammal acoustic detections in the Greenland and Barents Sea, 2013 - 2014 seasons. Sci Rep 2018; 8:16882. [PMID: 30442965 PMCID: PMC6237968 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-34624-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2018] [Accepted: 10/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
While the Greenland and Barents Seas are known habitats for several cetacean and pinniped species there is a lack of long-term monitoring data in this rapidly changing environment. Moreover, little is known of the ambient soundscapes, and increasing off-shore anthropogenic activities can influence the ecosystem and marine life. Baseline acoustic data is needed to better assess current and future soundscape and ecosystem conditions. The analysis of a year of continuous data from three passive acoustic monitoring devices revealed species-dependent seasonal and spatial variation of a large variety of marine mammals in the Greenland and Barents Seas. Sampling rates were 39 and 78 kHz in the respective locations, and all systems were operational at a duty cycle of 2 min on, 30 min off. The research presents a description of cetacean and pinniped acoustic detections along with a variety of unknown low-frequency tonal sounds, and ambient sound level measurements that fall within the scope of the European Marine Strategy Framework (MSFD). The presented data shows the importance of monitoring Arctic underwater biodiversity for assessing the ecological changes under the scope of climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffen De Vreese
- Laboratory of Applied Bioacoustics, Technical University of Catalonia (UPC), BarcelonaTech, Rambla Exposición s/n, 08800, Vilanova i la Geltrú, Spain
| | - Mike van der Schaar
- Laboratory of Applied Bioacoustics, Technical University of Catalonia (UPC), BarcelonaTech, Rambla Exposición s/n, 08800, Vilanova i la Geltrú, Spain
| | | | - Florence Erbs
- Laboratory of Applied Bioacoustics, Technical University of Catalonia (UPC), BarcelonaTech, Rambla Exposición s/n, 08800, Vilanova i la Geltrú, Spain
| | - Monika Kosecka
- Laboratory of Applied Bioacoustics, Technical University of Catalonia (UPC), BarcelonaTech, Rambla Exposición s/n, 08800, Vilanova i la Geltrú, Spain
| | - Marta Solé
- Laboratory of Applied Bioacoustics, Technical University of Catalonia (UPC), BarcelonaTech, Rambla Exposición s/n, 08800, Vilanova i la Geltrú, Spain
| | - Michel André
- Laboratory of Applied Bioacoustics, Technical University of Catalonia (UPC), BarcelonaTech, Rambla Exposición s/n, 08800, Vilanova i la Geltrú, Spain.
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Root-Gutteridge H, Cusano DA, Shiu Y, Nowacek DP, Van Parijs SM, Parks SE. A lifetime of changing calls: North Atlantic right whales, Eubalaena glacialis, refine call production as they age. Anim Behav 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2017.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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10
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Parisi I, de Vincenzi G, Torri M, Papale E, Mazzola S, Bonanno A, Buscaino G. Underwater vocal complexity of Arctic seal Erignathus barbatus in Kongsfjorden (Svalbard). THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2017; 142:3104. [PMID: 29195481 DOI: 10.1121/1.5010887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
In this study the description of underwater vocal repertoire of bearded seal in Svalbard (Norway) was extended. Two autonomous passive acoustic recorders were deployed for one year (August 2014-July 2015) in the inner and outer parts of the Kongsfjorden, and 1728 h were recorded and 17 220 vocalizations were found. Nine different vocalization classes were identified and characterized using ten acoustic parameters. The calls showed heterogeneous spectral features, but share the descending trend of frequency modulation. The different classes emerged were discriminated primarily by bandwidth and duration, and then by minimum frequency, central frequency, and maximum frequency in this order. This study represents a step forward to improve the understanding of the acoustic behaviour and the social function of these calls, and identified long passive acoustic monitoring as an effective method to assess vocal complexity and the ecology of marine species producing sounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignazio Parisi
- National Research Council, Institute for Coastal Marine Environment, Bioacousticslab Capo Granitola, Via del Mare, Campobello di Mazara (TP), 6-91021 Torretta Granitola, Italy
| | - Giovanni de Vincenzi
- National Research Council, Institute for Coastal Marine Environment, Bioacousticslab Capo Granitola, Via del Mare, Campobello di Mazara (TP), 6-91021 Torretta Granitola, Italy
| | - Marco Torri
- National Research Council, Institute for Coastal Marine Environment, Via del Mare, Campobello di Mazara (TP), 6-91021 Torretta Granitola, Italy
| | - Elena Papale
- National Research Council, Institute for Coastal Marine Environment, Bioacousticslab Capo Granitola, Via del Mare, Campobello di Mazara (TP), 6-91021 Torretta Granitola, Italy
| | - Salvatore Mazzola
- National Research Council, Institute for Coastal Marine Environment, Bioacousticslab Capo Granitola, Via del Mare, Campobello di Mazara (TP), 6-91021 Torretta Granitola, Italy
| | - Angelo Bonanno
- National Research Council, Institute for Coastal Marine Environment, Via del Mare, Campobello di Mazara (TP), 6-91021 Torretta Granitola, Italy
| | - Giuseppa Buscaino
- National Research Council, Institute for Coastal Marine Environment, Bioacousticslab Capo Granitola, Via del Mare, Campobello di Mazara (TP), 6-91021 Torretta Granitola, Italy
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11
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Charrier I, Marchesseau S, Dendrinos P, Tounta E, Karamanlidis AA. Individual signatures in the vocal repertoire of the endangered Mediterranean monk seal: new perspectives for population monitoring. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2017. [DOI: 10.3354/esr00829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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12
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Sabinsky PF, Larsen ON, Wahlberg M, Tougaard J. Temporal and spatial variation in harbor seal (Phoca vitulina L.) roar calls from southern Scandinavia. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2017; 141:1824. [PMID: 28372059 DOI: 10.1121/1.4977999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Male harbor seals gather around breeding sites for competitive mating displays. Here, they produce underwater vocalizations possibly to attract females and/or scare off other males. These calls offer prospects for passive acoustic monitoring. Acoustic monitoring requires a good understanding of natural variation in calling behavior both temporally and among geographically separate sites. Such variation in call structure and calling patterns were studied in harbor seal vocalizations recorded at three locations in Danish and Swedish waters. There was a strong seasonality in the calls from end of June to early August. Vocalizations at two locations followed a diel pattern, with an activity peak at night. Recordings from one location also showed a peak in call rate at high tide. Large geographic variations were obvious in the total duration of the so-called roar call, the duration of the most prominent part of the call (the roar burst), and of percentage of energy in roar burst. A similarly large variation was also found when comparing the recordings from two consecutive years at the same site. Thus, great care must be taken to separate variation attributable to recording conditions from genuine biological differences when comparing harbor seal roars among recording sites and between years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Puk Faxe Sabinsky
- Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Ole Næsbye Larsen
- Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Magnus Wahlberg
- Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Jakob Tougaard
- Department for Bioscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
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13
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Marshall CD. Morphology of the Bearded Seal (Erignathus barbatus) Muscular-Vibrissal Complex: A Functional Model for Phocid Subambient Pressure Generation. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2016; 299:1043-53. [DOI: 10.1002/ar.23377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2015] [Revised: 02/01/2016] [Accepted: 04/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher D. Marshall
- Department of Marine Biology; Texas A&M University; Texas
- Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Biology; Texas A&M University; Texas
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14
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Trygonis V, Gerstein E, Moir J, McCulloch S. Vocalization characteristics of North Atlantic right whale surface active groups in the calving habitat, southeastern United States. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2013; 134:4518. [PMID: 25669262 DOI: 10.1121/1.4824682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Passive acoustic surveys were conducted to assess the vocal behavior of North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) in the designated critical calving habitat along the shallow coastal waters of southeastern United States. Underwater vocalizations were recorded using autonomous buoys deployed in close proximity to surface active groups (SAGs). Nine main vocalization types were identified with manual inspection of spectrograms, and standard acoustic descriptors were extracted. Classification trees were used to examine the distinguishing characteristics of calls and quantify their variability within the SAG vocal repertoire. The results show that descriptors of frequency, bandwidth, and spectral disorder are the most important parameters for partitioning the SAG repertoire, contrary to duration-related measures. The reported source levels and vocalization statistics provide sound production data vital to inform regional passive acoustic monitoring and conservation for this endangered species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasilis Trygonis
- Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University, 5600 US 1 North, Florida 34946
| | - Edmund Gerstein
- Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Florida 33431
| | - Jim Moir
- Marine Resources Council, Palm Bay, 5215 SE Williams Way, Stuart, Florida 34997
| | - Stephen McCulloch
- Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University, 5600 US 1 North, Florida 34946
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15
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Valtierra RD, Glynn Holt R, Cholewiak D, Van Parijs SM. Calling depths of baleen whales from single sensor data: development of an autocorrelation method using multipath localization. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2013; 134:2571-2581. [PMID: 23968054 DOI: 10.1121/1.4816582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Multipath localization techniques have not previously been applied to baleen whale vocalizations due to difficulties in application to tonal vocalizations. Here it is shown that an autocorrelation method coupled with the direct reflected time difference of arrival localization technique can successfully resolve location information. A derivation was made to model the autocorrelation of a direct signal and its overlapping reflections to illustrate that an autocorrelation may be used to extract reflection information from longer duration signals containing a frequency sweep, such as some calls produced by baleen whales. An analysis was performed to characterize the difference in behavior of the autocorrelation when applied to call types with varying parameters (sweep rate, call duration). The method's feasibility was tested using data from playback transmissions to localize an acoustic transducer at a known depth and location. The method was then used to estimate the depth and range of a single North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) and humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) from two separate experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert D Valtierra
- Boston University, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 110 Cummington Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA
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16
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Charrier I, Mathevon N, Aubin T. Bearded seal males perceive geographic variation in their trills. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-013-1578-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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17
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Year-round acoustic detection of bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) in the Beaufort Sea relative to changing environmental conditions, 2008–2010. Polar Biol 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-013-1337-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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18
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Passive acoustic tracking of singing humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) on a northwest Atlantic feeding ground. PLoS One 2013; 8:e61263. [PMID: 23593447 PMCID: PMC3622601 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0061263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2013] [Accepted: 03/05/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Passive acoustic tracking provides an unobtrusive method of studying the movement of sound-producing animals in the marine environment where traditional tracking methods may be costly or infeasible. We used passive acoustic tracking to characterize the fine-scale movements of singing humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) on a northwest Atlantic feeding ground. Male humpback whales produce complex songs, a phenomenon that is well documented in tropical regions during the winter breeding season, but also occurs at higher latitudes during other times of year. Acoustic recordings were made throughout 2009 using an array of autonomous recording units deployed in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Song was recorded during spring and fall, and individual singing whales were localized and tracked throughout the array using a correlation sum estimation method on the time-synchronized recordings. Tracks were constructed for forty-three song sessions, revealing a high level of variation in movement patterns in both the spring and fall seasons, ranging from slow meandering to faster directional movement. Tracks were 30 min to 8 h in duration, and singers traveled distances ranging from 0.9 to 20.1 km. Mean swimming speed was 2.06 km/h (SD 0.95). Patterns and rates of movement indicated that most singers were actively swimming. In one case, two singers were tracked simultaneously, revealing a potential acoustic interaction. Our results provide a first description of the movements of singers on a northwest Atlantic feeding ground, and demonstrate the utility of passive acoustic tracking for studying the fine-scale movements of cetaceans within the behavioral context of their calls. These methods have further applications for conservation and management purposes, particularly by enhancing our ability to estimate cetacean densities using passive acoustic monitoring.
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Marques TA, Thomas L, Martin SW, Mellinger DK, Ward JA, Moretti DJ, Harris D, Tyack PL. Estimating animal population density using passive acoustics. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2012. [PMID: 23190144 PMCID: PMC3743169 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 229] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Reliable estimation of the size or density of wild animal populations is very important for effective wildlife management, conservation and ecology. Currently, the most widely used methods for obtaining such estimates involve either sighting animals from transect lines or some form of capture-recapture on marked or uniquely identifiable individuals. However, many species are difficult to sight, and cannot be easily marked or recaptured. Some of these species produce readily identifiable sounds, providing an opportunity to use passive acoustic data to estimate animal density. In addition, even for species for which other visually based methods are feasible, passive acoustic methods offer the potential for greater detection ranges in some environments (e.g. underwater or in dense forest), and hence potentially better precision. Automated data collection means that surveys can take place at times and in places where it would be too expensive or dangerous to send human observers. Here, we present an overview of animal density estimation using passive acoustic data, a relatively new and fast-developing field. We review the types of data and methodological approaches currently available to researchers and we provide a framework for acoustics-based density estimation, illustrated with examples from real-world case studies. We mention moving sensor platforms (e.g. towed acoustics), but then focus on methods involving sensors at fixed locations, particularly hydrophones to survey marine mammals, as acoustic-based density estimation research to date has been concentrated in this area. Primary among these are methods based on distance sampling and spatially explicit capture-recapture. The methods are also applicable to other aquatic and terrestrial sound-producing taxa. We conclude that, despite being in its infancy, density estimation based on passive acoustic data likely will become an important method for surveying a number of diverse taxa, such as sea mammals, fish, birds, amphibians, and insects, especially in situations where inferences are required over long periods of time. There is considerable work ahead, with several potentially fruitful research areas, including the development of (i) hardware and software for data acquisition, (ii) efficient, calibrated, automated detection and classification systems, and (iii) statistical approaches optimized for this application. Further, survey design will need to be developed, and research is needed on the acoustic behaviour of target species. Fundamental research on vocalization rates and group sizes, and the relation between these and other factors such as season or behaviour state, is critical. Evaluation of the methods under known density scenarios will be important for empirically validating the approaches presented here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago A Marques
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, University of St Andrews, The Observatory, Buchanan Gardens, Fife, KY16 9LZ, UK.
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Wrege PH, Rowland ED, Thompson BG, Batruch N. Use of acoustic tools to reveal otherwise cryptic responses of forest elephants to oil exploration. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2010; 24:1578-1585. [PMID: 20666800 DOI: 10.1111/j.1523-1739.2010.01559.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Most evaluations of the effects of human activities on wild animals have focused on estimating changes in abundance and distribution of threatened species; however, ecosystem disturbances also affect aspects of animal behavior such as short-term movement, activity budgets, and reproduction. It may take a long time for changes in behavior to manifest as changes in abundance or distribution. Therefore, it is important to have methods with which to detect short-term behavioral responses to human activity. We used continuous acoustic and seismic monitoring to evaluate the short-term effects of seismic prospecting for oil on forest elephants (Loxodonta cyclotis) in Gabon, Central Africa. We monitored changes in elephant abundance and activity as a function of the frequency and intensity of acoustic and seismic signals from dynamite detonation and human activity. Elephants did not flee the area being explored; the relative number of elephants increased in a seasonal pattern typical of elsewhere in the ecosystem. In the exploration area, however, they became more nocturnal. Neither the intensity nor the frequency of dynamite blasts affected the frequency of calling or the daily pattern of elephant activity. Nevertheless, the shift of activity to nocturnal hours became more pronounced as human activity neared each monitored area of forest. This change in activity pattern and its likely causes would not have been detected through standard monitoring methods, which are not sensitive to behavioral changes over short time scales (e.g., dung transects, point counts) or cover a limited area (e.g., camera traps). Simultaneous acoustic monitoring of animal communication, human, and environmental sounds allows the documentation of short-term behavioral changes in response to human disturbance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter H Wrege
- The Elephant Listening Project, Bioacoustics Research Program, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY 14850-1923, USA.
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Stafford KM, Moore SE, Laidre KL, Heide-Jørgensen MP. Bowhead whale springtime song off West Greenland. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2008; 124:3315-3323. [PMID: 19045814 DOI: 10.1121/1.2980443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Three songs were recorded from bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) in Disko Bay, West Greenland, during 59 h of recordings via sonobuoys deployed on seven days between 5 and 14 April 2007. Song elements were defined by units following the protocol of previous description of bowhead whale song. The two most prominent songs were loud, complex, and repeated in long bouts on multiple recording days while the third song was much simpler and recorded on only one day. Bowhead whale simple calls and faint song elements were also recorded using digital audio tape recorders and a dipping hydrophone deployed from the sea ice approximately 100-150 km southwest of Disko Bay on three separate days suggesting that song is also produced in the central portion of Baffin Bay in winter. Songs recorded in Disko Bay are from an area where approximately 85% of the whales have been determined to be adult females. Although it is not known which sex was singing, we speculate that, as in humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), male bowhead whales may sing to mediate sexual competition or mate selection behaviors. This is the first detailed description of springtime songs for bowhead whales in the eastern Arctic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen M Stafford
- Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington (APL-UW), 1013 NE 40th Street, Seattle, Washington 98105, USA
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Marshall CD, Kovacs KM, Lydersen C. Feeding kinematics, suction and hydraulic jetting capabilities in bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus). J Exp Biol 2008; 211:699-708. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.009852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
SUMMARYFeeding kinematics, suction and hydraulic jetting capabilities of bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) were characterized during controlled feeding trials. Feeding trials were conducted both on land and in water, and allowed a choice between suction and biting, but food was also presented that could be ingested by suction alone. Four feeding phases, preparatory, jaw opening, hyoid depression and jaw closing were observed; the mean feeding cycle duration was 0.54±0.22 s, regardless of feeding mode(P>0.05). Subjects feeding on land used biting and suction 89.3%and 10.7% of the time, respectively. Subjects feeding in water used suction and hydraulic jetting 96.3% and 3.7% of the time, respectively. No biting behavior was observed underwater. Suction feeding was characterized by a small gape (2.7±0.85 cm), small gape angle (24.4±8.13°), pursing of the rostral lips to form a circular aperture, and pursing of the lateral lips to occlude lateral gape. Biting was characterized by large gape(7.3±2.2 cm), large gape angle (41.7±15.2°), and lip curling to expose the teeth. An excavation behavior in which suction and hydraulic jetting were alternated was used to extract food from recessed wells. The maximum subambient and suprambient pressures recorded were 91.2 and 53.4 kPa,respectively. The inclusion of suction data for phocids broadens the principle that suction feeding kinematics is conserved among aquatic vertebrates. Furthermore, bearded seals support predictions that mouth size, fluid flow speed, and elusiveness of prey consumed are among a suite of traits that determine the specific nature of suction feeding among species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher D. Marshall
- Texas A&M University at Galveston, Department of Marine Biology, 5007 Avenue U, Galveston, TX 77551, USA
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Risch D, Clark CW, Corkeron PJ, Elepfandt A, Kovacs KM, Lydersen C, Stirling I, Van Parijs SM. Vocalizations of male bearded seals, Erignathus barbatus: classification and geographical variation. Anim Behav 2007. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2006.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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