Oceans of noise - Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society
Oceans of noise - Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society
Oceans of noise - Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society
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3.11. Research<br />
3.11.1. Controlled Exposure Experiments <strong>and</strong> ‘playback’<br />
To improve the knowledge <strong>and</strong> underst<strong>and</strong>ing <strong>of</strong> the impacts <strong>of</strong> anthropogenic <strong>noise</strong> on short<br />
term <strong>and</strong> observable cetacean behaviour, some efforts have been made to expose cetaceans to<br />
specific sounds with the aim <strong>of</strong> monitoring their responses. Such studies are aimed at filling data<br />
gaps that currently exist regarding responses to specific potentially damaging sounds,<br />
vulnerabilities <strong>of</strong> different species, <strong>and</strong> individual groups within those species (for example<br />
mother <strong>and</strong> calf pairs) <strong>and</strong> perhaps most urgently, the assessment <strong>of</strong> auditory thresholds.<br />
A strong case should have to be made that such studies can produce valid results that cannot be<br />
achieved by less intrusive means. This approach only allows short-term <strong>and</strong> well known<br />
behaviours to be monitored (Gordon <strong>and</strong> Thompson 2001) <strong>and</strong> may have long term implications<br />
for those animals involved. The link between possible behavioural responses <strong>and</strong> the onset <strong>of</strong><br />
physical damage cannot currently be determined. Further to this, no obvious or measurable<br />
response does not mean there is no impact.<br />
Introducing further <strong>noise</strong> into the marine environment obviously has a potential to negatively<br />
affect those individuals that are being targeted, <strong>and</strong> may also have implications for others.<br />
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