Evidence that ship noise increases stress in right whales
Evidence that ship noise increases stress in right whales
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DOI：
10.1098/rspb.2011.2429
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发表时间：
2012-06-22
影响因子：
4.7
通讯作者：
Kraus, Scott D.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Rolland, Rosalind M.;Parks, Susan E.;Kraus, Scott D.
须鲸（Mysticeti）使用低频声学信号进行交流。这些长波长的声音可以在数百公里外被探测到，有可能实现远距离接触。大型船只发出的低频噪音（20-200赫兹）与须鲸使用的声音信号重叠，在航运量大的地区，水下噪音水平有所增加。据报道，鲸鱼对噪音增加的反应包括：栖息地迁移、行为变化以及叫声强度、频率和间隔的改变。然而，目前尚不清楚暴露于噪声是否会导致可能对个人或群体产生重大后果的生理反应。在这里，我们表明，减少船舶交通在芬迪湾，加拿大，继2001年9月11日的事件，导致在水下噪声下降6分贝，显着降低低于150赫兹。这种噪音减少与北大西洋露脊鲸（Eubalaena glacialis）中与压力相关的粪便激素代谢物（糖皮质激素）的基线水平降低有关。这是第一个证据表明，暴露于低频船舶噪音可能与鲸鱼的慢性压力有关，并对船舶交通繁忙地区的所有须鲸以及这种濒危露脊鲸种群的恢复产生影响。
Baleen whales (Mysticeti) communicate using low-frequency acoustic signals. These long-wavelength sounds can be detected over hundreds of kilometres, potentially allowing contact over large distances. Low-frequency noise from large ships (20-200 Hz) overlaps acoustic signals used by baleen whales, and increased levels of underwater noise have been documented in areas with high shipping traffic. Reported responses of whales to increased noise include: habitat displacement, behavioural changes and alterations in the intensity, frequency and intervals of calls. However, it has been unclear whether exposure to noise results in physiological responses that may lead to significant consequences for individuals or populations. Here, we show that reduced ship traffic in the Bay of Fundy, Canada, following the events of 11 September 2001, resulted in a 6 dB decrease in underwater noise with a significant reduction below 150 Hz. This noise reduction was associated with decreased baseline levels of stress-related faecal hormone metabolites (glucocorticoids) in North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis). This is the first evidence that exposure to low-frequency ship noise may be associated with chronic stress in whales, and has implications for all baleen whales in heavy ship traffic areas, and for recovery of this endangered right whale population.