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Williams BR, McAfee D, Connell SD. Anthropogenic noise disrupts acoustic cues for recruitment. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20240741. [PMID: 39043238 PMCID: PMC11265905 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2024.0741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic noise is rising and may interfere with natural acoustic cues used by organisms to recruit. Newly developed acoustic technology provides enriched settlement cues to boost recruitment of target organisms navigating to restoration sites, but can it boost recruitment in noise-polluted sites? To address this dilemma, we coupled replicated aquarium experiments with field experiments. Under controlled and replicated laboratory conditions, acoustic enrichment boosted recruitment by 2.57 times in the absence of anthropogenic noise, but yielded comparable recruitment in its presence (i.e. no boosting effect). Using the same technique, we then tested the replicability of these responses in real-world settings where independently replicated 'sites' are unfeasible owing to the inherent differences in soundscapes. Again, acoustic enrichment increased recruitment where anthropogenic noise was low (by 3.33 times), but had no effect at a site of noise pollution. Together, these coupled laboratory-to-field outcomes indicate that anthropogenic noise can mask the signal of acoustic enrichment. While noise pollution may reduce the effectiveness of acoustic enrichment, some of our reported observations suggest that anthropogenic noise per se might also provide an attractive cue for oyster larvae to recruit. These findings underscore the complexity of larval behavioural responses to acoustic stimuli during recruitment processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany R. Williams
- Southern Seas Ecology Laboratories, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide5005, Australia
| | - Dominic McAfee
- Southern Seas Ecology Laboratories, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide5005, Australia
- Environment Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide5005, Australia
| | - Sean D. Connell
- Southern Seas Ecology Laboratories, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide5005, Australia
- Environment Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide5005, Australia
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Graham IM, Gillespie D, Gkikopoulou KC, Hastie GD, Thompson PM. Directional hydrophone clusters reveal evasive responses of small cetaceans to disturbance during construction at offshore windfarms. Biol Lett 2023; 19:20220101. [PMID: 36651028 PMCID: PMC9845968 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2022.0101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Mitigation measures to disperse marine mammals prior to pile-driving include acoustic deterrent devices and piling soft starts, but their efficacy remains uncertain. We developed a self-contained portable hydrophone cluster to detect small cetacean movements from the distributions of bearings to detections. Using an array of clusters within 10 km of foundation pile installations, we tested the hypothesis that harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) respond to mitigation measures at offshore windfarm sites by moving away. During baseline periods, porpoise movements were evenly distributed in all directions. By contrast, animals showed significant directional movement away from sound sources during acoustic deterrent device use and piling soft starts. We demonstrate that porpoises respond to measures aimed to mitigate the most severe impacts of construction at offshore windfarms by swimming directly away from these sound sources. Portable directional hydrophone clusters now provide opportunities to characterize responses to disturbance sources across a broad suite of habitats and contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- I M Graham
- Lighthouse Field Station, School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Cromarty, Ross-shire IV11 8YL, Scotland
| | - D Gillespie
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, Fife KY16 8LB, Scotland
| | - K C Gkikopoulou
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, Fife KY16 8LB, Scotland
| | - G D Hastie
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, Fife KY16 8LB, Scotland
| | - P M Thompson
- Lighthouse Field Station, School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Cromarty, Ross-shire IV11 8YL, Scotland
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Merchant ND, Putland RL, André M, Baudin E, Felli M, Slabbekoorn H, Dekeling R. A decade of underwater noise research in support of the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive. OCEAN & COASTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 228:None. [PMID: 36133796 PMCID: PMC9472084 DOI: 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2022.106299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Underwater noise from human activities is now widely recognised as a threat to marine life. Nevertheless, legislation which directly addresses this source of pollution is lacking. The first (and currently only) example globally is Descriptor 11 of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), adopted by the European Union in 2008, which requires that levels of underwater noise pollution do not adversely affect marine ecosystems. The MSFD has stimulated a concerted research effort across Europe to develop noise monitoring programmes and to conduct research towards specifying threshold values which would define 'Good Environmental Status' (GES) for underwater noise. Here, we chart the progress made during the first decade of Descriptor 11's implementation: 2010-2020. Several international joint monitoring programmes have been established for impulsive and continuous noise, enabling ecosystem-scale assessment for the first time. Research into the impact of noise on individual animals has grown exponentially, demonstrating a range of adverse effects at various trophic levels. However, threshold values for GES must be defined for 'populations of marine animals.' Population-level consequences of noise exposure can be modelled, but data to parameterise such models are currently unavailable for most species, suggesting that alternative approaches to defining GES thresholds will be necessary. To date, the application of measures to reduce noise levels (quieting/noise abatement) has been limited. To address this, the EU in 2021 identified an explicit need to reduce underwater noise pollution in its waters. Delivering on this ambition will require further research focused on the development and implementation of quieting measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan D. Merchant
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Lowestoft, UK
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Rosalyn L. Putland
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Lowestoft, UK
| | - Michel André
- Laboratory of Applied Bioacoustics, Technical University of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Mario Felli
- Institute of Marine Engineering (INM), National Research Council (CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Hans Slabbekoorn
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
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Sigray P, Linné M, Andersson MH, Nöjd A, Persson LKG, Gill AB, Thomsen F. Particle motion observed during offshore wind turbine piling operation. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 180:113734. [PMID: 35635876 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Measurement of particle motion from an offshore piling event in the North was conducted to determine noise levels. For this purpose, a bespoken sensor was developed that was both autonomous and sensitive up to 2 kHz. The measurement was undertaken both for unmitigated and mitigated piling. Three different types of mitigation techniques were employed. The acceleration zero-to-peak values and the acceleration exposure levels were determined. The results show that inferred mitigation techniques reduce the levels significantly as well as decreases the power content of higher frequencies. These results suggest that mitigation has an effect and will reduce the effect ranges of impact on marine species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Sigray
- Royal Institute of Technology, Department of Engineering Mechanics, S-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Markus Linné
- Swedish Defence Research Agency, S-164 90 Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Andreas Nöjd
- Swedish Defence Research Agency, S-164 90 Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Andrew B Gill
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 0HT, UK
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Diagonal Denoising for Spatially Correlated Noise Based on Diagonalization Decorrelation in Underwater Radiated Noise Measurement. JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/jmse10040502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In underwater radiated noise measurement using a vertical linear array, a diagonalization-decorrelation-based diagonal denoising method is proposed to improve the denoising effect for spatially correlated noise. Firstly, the ambient noise cross-spectral matrix is measured without the radiated noise source. Subsequently, the eigenvector matrix of the ambient noise cross-spectral matrix is utilized to implement a unitary transformation for the received data, which eliminates the correlation of the received noise and transforms the received noise cross-spectral matrix into a diagonal matrix, then the noise components are removed by diagonal denoising. Finally, the denoised cross-spectral matrix is used to estimate the power of the radiated noise by beamforming. Consequently, the influence of spatially correlated noise on radiated noise measurement is reduced. The effectiveness of the proposed method is validated and compared with the diagonal denoising method and the whitening-decorrelation-based diagonal denoising method via numerical simulations and experimental data. Under the ideal condition, the noise reduction performances of the proposed method and the whitening-decorrelation-based diagonal denoising method are equal and better than that of the diagonal denoising method. In practice, the number of snapshots is limited, so there is an inevitable mismatch between the ambient noise cross-spectral matrix and the received noise cross-spectral matrix due to the randomness of noise. The mismatch results in imperfect whitening and diagonalization, which reduces the denoising effect. However, the simulation results indicate that the proposed method still reduces more correlated noise and has a better performance on underwater radiated noise measurement compared with the diagonal denoising method and the whitening-decorrelation-based diagonal denoising method even if the number of snapshots is finite.
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Marotte E, Wright AJ, Breeze H, Wingfield J, Matthews LP, Risch D, Merchant ND, Barclay D, Evers C, Lawson J, Lesage V, Moors-Murphy H, Nolet V, Theriault JA. Recommended metrics for quantifying underwater noise impacts on North Atlantic right whales. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 175:113361. [PMID: 35077924 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic underwater noise has been identified as a potentially serious stressor for the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale (NARW). The Government of Canada is undertaking steps to better characterize the noise sources of most concern and their associated impacts, but there is currently an insufficient understanding of which noise sources are most impacting NARW in their Canadian habitat. This knowledge gap together with the myriad possible methods and metrics for quantifying underwater noise presents a confounding and challenging problem that risks delaying timely mitigation. This study presents the results from a 2020 workshop aimed at developing a series of metrics recommended specifically for better characterizing the types of noise deemed of greatest concern for NARW in Canadian waters. The recommendations provide a basis for more targeted research on noise impacts and set the stage for more effective management and protection of NARW, with potential conservation applications to similar species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmaline Marotte
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, 1 Challenger Drive, Dartmouth, NS B2Y 4A2, Canada
| | - Andrew J Wright
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, 1 Challenger Drive, Dartmouth, NS B2Y 4A2, Canada.
| | - Heather Breeze
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, 1 Challenger Drive, Dartmouth, NS B2Y 4A2, Canada
| | - Jessica Wingfield
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, 1 Challenger Drive, Dartmouth, NS B2Y 4A2, Canada
| | - Leanna P Matthews
- Sound Science Research Collective, 5305 N. Douglas Highway, Juneau, AK 99801, USA
| | - Denise Risch
- Scottish Association for Marine Science, Oban PA37 1QA, Scotland, UK
| | - Nathan D Merchant
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Pakefield Road, Lowestoft NR33 0HT, Suffolk, UK
| | - David Barclay
- Department of Oceanography, Dalhousie University, 1355 Oxford Street, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Clair Evers
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, 1 Challenger Drive, Dartmouth, NS B2Y 4A2, Canada
| | - Jack Lawson
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre, 80 East White Hills Road, St. John's, NL A1C 5X1, Canada
| | - Veronique Lesage
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Maurice Lamontagne Institute, P.O. Box 1000, 850 route de la Mer, Mont-Joli, QC G5H 3Z4, Canada
| | - Hilary Moors-Murphy
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, 1 Challenger Drive, Dartmouth, NS B2Y 4A2, Canada
| | - Veronique Nolet
- Transport Canada, Innovation Centre, 330 Sparks Street, Ottawa, ON K1A 0N5, Canada
| | - James A Theriault
- Ocean Environmental Consulting, 9 Ravine Park Crescent, Halifax, NS B3M 4S6, Canada
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