The Influence of Oceanographic and Biological Processes on the Distribution of Cetaceans on the West Florida Shelf

以往对鲸目动物分布的研究受到收集数据集时的空间和时间混淆的极大限制，这妨碍了它们根据物理和生物数据解释变异性的能力。这种伙伴关系汇集了生物声学、海洋声学、物理海洋学、遥感和地理信息系统分析方面的专家，以克服这一限制。研究所将收集关于西佛罗里达大陆架鲸目动物分布和物理及生物过程的适当空间尺度的天气数据集。该数据集将提供前所未有的能力，以解决有关物理，生物和人为噪音对鲸目动物分布的影响的问题。鲸类的发声方式多种多样。在墨西哥湾深水沃茨观察到的物种通常发出5至40 kHz的声音。一种新开发的声学记录仪，数字光谱记录仪（DSG），将用于克服与其他记录仪设计相关的数据存储和电池问题。将在48 750平方公里的区域部署73个DSG记录器的稀疏阵列，以确定西佛罗里达大陆架上鲸目动物的相对空间和时间分布。拖曳阵列记录也将用于确定鲸目动物发声的源级，以模拟每个记录器的有效采样区。西佛罗里达大陆架上鲸类动物产生的声音库也将从现有的录音和新的阵列录音中汇编出来，以分析物种特异性分布。噪音水平如何影响鲸目动物的分布和活动是鲸目动物种群管理的一个重要因素。水听器阵列将用于量化环境噪声水平，并模拟西佛罗里达大陆架上的声音传播。将收集同时进行的物理和生物海洋学数据;利用卫星遥感进行现场收集，并借助数值环流模型进行解释。有了这个多层次的数据集，我们将能够以多学科的方式调查西佛罗里达大陆架海洋学变量的空间和时间模式。更广泛的影响这些数据将形成一个基线，可用于了解海洋哺乳动物如何对噪音源作出反应，如地震调查。这项工作还将涉及博士教育-水平的研究生。

Previous studies of cetacean distributions have been greatly limited by spatial and temporal aliasing in collection of data sets, which have hindered their ability to explain variability based on physical and biological data. This partnership brings together experts in bioacoustics, ocean acoustics, physical oceanography, remote sensing, and GIS analysis to overcome this limitation. The PIs will collect a synoptic data set over appropriate spatial scales on cetacean distributions and physical and biological processes on the West Florida Shelf. This data set will provide an unprecedented ability to resolve questions about the influences of physical, biological, and anthropogenic noise on the distribution of cetaceans. Cetaceans make a wide variety of vocalizations. Species observed in deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico typically produce vocalizations ranging from 5 to 40 kHz. A newly developed acoustic recorder, the Digital SpectroGram recorder (DSG), will be used to overcome the data storage and battery problems associated with other recorder designs. A sparse array of 73 DSG recorders will be deployed over a 48,750 km2 area, to determine the relative spatial and temporal distribution of cetaceans on the West Florida Shelf. Towed array recordings will also be used to determine source levels of cetacean vocalizations to model the effective sampling area of each recorder. A library of sounds produced by the cetaceans on the West Florida Shelf will also be compiled from existing recordings and new array recordings to analyze species-specific distributions. How noise levels affect cetacean distribution and activity is an important element of cetacean stock management. The hydrophone array will be used to quantify ambient noise levels and to model sound propagation on the West Florida Shelf. Concurrent physical and biological oceanographic data will be collected; in-situ, with satellite remote sensing, and interpreted with the aid of numerical circulation models. With this multilayered data set, we will be able to investigate the spatial and temporal patterns of oceanographic variables on the West Florida Shelf in a multidisciplinary manner. Broader ImpactsThese data will form a baseline that can be used to understand how marine mammals react to noise sources, such as seismic surveys. This work will also involve the education of a Ph.D.-level graduate student.