Acoustic monitoring of coastal dolphins and their response to naval mine neutralization exercises

To investigate the potential impacts of naval mine neutralization exercises (MINEX) on odontocete cetaceans, a long-term passive acoustic monitoring study was conducted at a US Navy training range near Virginia Beach, USA. Bottom-moored acoustic recorders were deployed in 2012–2016 near the epicentre of MINEX training activity and were refurbished every 2–4 months. Recordings were analysed for the daily presence/absence of dolphins, and dolphin acoustic activity was quantified in detail for the hours and days before and after 31 MINEX training events. Dolphins occurred in the area year-round, but there was clear seasonal variability, with lower presence during winter months. Dolphins exhibited a behavioural response to underwater detonations. Dolphin acoustic activity near the training location was lower during the hours and days following detonations, suggesting that animals left the area and/or reduced their signalling. Concurrent acoustic monitoring farther away from the training are...

为探究海军扫雷演习（MINEX）对齿鲸类（odontocete cetaceans）的潜在影响，在美国弗吉尼亚海滩附近的一处美国海军训练场开展了一项长期被动声学监测（passive acoustic monitoring）研究。2012至2016年间，在MINEX训练活动中心区域附近部署了海底锚定声学记录仪（bottom-moored acoustic recorders），每2至4个月进行一次维护。对录音数据进行分析，以确定海豚每日的存在/缺失情况，并针对31次MINEX训练事件前后数小时及数天内的海豚声学活动进行了详细量化。海豚全年都在该区域活动，但存在明显的季节变化，冬季月份的出现率较低。海豚对水下爆炸表现出行为反应。训练地点附近的海豚声学活动在爆炸后的数小时及数天内有所降低，这表明海豚离开了该区域和/或减少了信号传递。同时在远离训练区...