Data from: Vessel noise levels drive behavioural responses of humpback whales with implications for whale-watching

Disturbance from whale-watching can cause significant behavioural changes
with fitness consequences for targeted whale populations. However, the
sensory stimuli triggering these responses are unknown, preventing
effective mitigation. Here, we test the hypothesis that vessel noise level
is a driver of disturbance, using humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae)
as a model species. We conducted controlled exposure experiments (n= 42)
on resting mother-calf pairs on a resting ground off Australia, by
simulating whale-watch scenarios with a research vessel (range 100 m,
speed 1.5 knts) playing back vessel noise at control/low (124/148 dB),
medium (160 dB) or high (172 dB) LF-weighted source levels (re 1 μPa
RMS@1m). Compared to control/low treatments, during high noise playbacks
the mother’s proportion of time resting decreased by 30%, respiration rate
doubled and swim speed increased by 37%. We therefore conclude that vessel
noise is an adequate driver of behavioural disturbance in whales and that
regulations to mitigate the impact of whale-watching should include noise
emission standards.