TECHNICAL INSTRUMENTATION ISSUES RELATED TO THE DESIGN AND EXECUTION OF A CONTROLLED-EXPOSURE EXPERIMENT FOR LARGE CETACEANS TO ASSESS POSSIBLE BEHAVIOURAL RESPONSES AND POTENTIAL IMPACTS

In order to plan, execute, and interpret a seismic-source controlled-exposure experiment (CEE) for large whales, obtaining detailed dive and movement information from instrumented animals is important. Previous tag types have been too short in attachment or have lacked adequate resolution. An Argos...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Bioacoustics (Berkhamsted) 2008-01, Vol.17 (1-3), p.334-336
Main Author: MATE, BRUCE R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cetacea
Marine
Citations: Items that this one cites
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:In order to plan, execute, and interpret a seismic-source controlled-exposure experiment (CEE) for large whales, obtaining detailed dive and movement information from instrumented animals is important. Previous tag types have been too short in attachment or have lacked adequate resolution. An Argos tag incorporating a GPS receiver and time-depth recorder (TDR) has been designed to ensure appropriate exposure levels and to evaluate whale behaviour before, during, and after CEE (60 days). Monitoring pre- and postexperiment "control" periods and variability in habits (dive behaviour, site tenacity, and movements) can help properly interpret CEE results and evaluate the time needed for whales to resume preexposure habits and habitats. This technique provides analysis of precise dive and location data in near-real time, which with calibrated buoy data provides control of sound exposure levels to avoid overexposing whales. This report describes the first test of new GPS tags, which could make longer term CEEs possible.
ISSN:0952-4622
2165-0586
DOI:10.1080/09524622.2008.9753867