Publication Date:
2019-11-12
Description:
The Protocol on Environmental Protection of the Antarctic Treaty stipulates that the
protection of the Antarctic environment and associated ecosystems be fundamentally
considered in the planning and conducting of all activities in the Antarctic Treaty area.
One of the key pollutants created by human activities in the Antarctic is noise, which
is primarily caused by ship traffic (from tourism, fisheries, and research), but also by
geophysical research (e.g., seismic surveys) and by research station support activities
(including construction). Arguably, amongst the species most vulnerable to noise are
marine mammals since they specialize in using sound for communication, navigation
and foraging, and therefore have evolved the highest auditory sensitivity among
marine organisms. Reported effects of noise on marine mammals in lower-latitude
oceans include stress, behavioral changes such as avoidance, auditory masking,
hearing threshold shifts, and—in extreme cases—death. Eight mysticete species,
10 odontocete species, and six pinniped species occur south of 60�S (i.e., in the
Southern or Antarctic Ocean). For many of these, the Southern Ocean is a key
area for foraging and reproduction. Yet, little is known about how these species are
affected by noise. We review the current prevalence of anthropogenic noise and the
distribution of marine mammals in the Southern Ocean, and the current research gaps
that prevent us from accurately assessing noise impacts on Antarctic marine mammals.
A questionnaire given to 29 international experts on marine mammals revealed a variety
of research needs. Those that received the highest rankings were (1) improved data on
abundance and distribution of Antarctic marine mammals, (2) hearing data for Antarctic
marine mammals, in particular a mysticete audiogram, and (3) an assessment of the
effectiveness of various noise mitigation options. The management need with the highest
score was a refinement of noise exposure criteria. Environmental evaluations are a
requirement before conducting activities in the Antarctic. Because of a lack of scientific
data on impacts, requirements and noise thresholds often vary between countries that
conduct these evaluations, leading to different standards across countries. Addressing
the identified research needs will help to implement informed and reasonable thresholds
for noise production in the Antarctic and help to protect the Antarctic environment.
Repository Name:
EPIC Alfred Wegener Institut
Type:
Article
,
isiRev
Format:
application/pdf
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