Data from: Fine-scale movement responses of free-ranging harbour porpoises to capture, tagging, and short-term noise pulses from a single airgun

Knowledge about the impact of anthropogenic disturbances on the
behavioural responses of cetaceans is constrained by lack of data on
fine-scale movements of individuals. We equipped five free-ranging harbour
porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) with high-resolution location and dive
loggers and exposed them to a single 10 in3 underwater airgun producing
high-intensity noise pulses (2−3 second intervals) for one minute. All
five porpoises responded to capture and tagging with longer, faster and
more directed movements as well as with shorter, shallower, less wiggly
dives immediately after release, with natural behaviour resumed in ≤24
hours. When we exposed porpoises to airgun pulses at ranges of 420−690 m
with noise level estimates of 135−147 dB re 1µPa2s (SEL), one individual
displayed rapid and directed movements away from the exposure site and two
individuals used shorter and shallower dives compared to natural behaviour
immediately after exposure. Noise-induced movement typically lasted for ≤8
hours with an additional 24-hour recovery period until natural behaviour
was resumed. The remaining individuals did not show any quantifiable
responses to the noise exposure. Changes in natural behaviour following
anthropogenic disturbances may reduce feeding opportunities and evaluating
potential population-level consequences should be a priority research
area.