Data from: Simulated seal scarer sounds scare porpoises, but not seals: species-specific responses to 12 kHz deterrence sounds

Acoustic harassment devices (AHD) or ‘seal scarers’ are used extensively, not only to deter seals from fisheries, but also as mitigation tools to deter marine mammals from potentially harmful sound sources, such as offshore pile driving. To test the effectiveness of AHDs, we conducted two studies with similar experimental setups on two key species: harbour porpoises and harbour seals. We exposed animals to 500 ms tone bursts at 12 kHz simulating that of an AHD (Lofitech), but with reduced output levels (source peak-to-peak level of 165 dB re 1µPa). Animals were localized with a theodolite before, during and after sound exposures. In total, 12 sound exposures were conducted to porpoises and 13 exposures to seals. Porpoises were found to exhibit avoidance reactions out to ranges of 525 m from the sound source. Contrary to this, seal observations increased during sound exposure within 100 m of the loudspeaker. We thereby demonstrate that porpoises and seals respond very differently to AHD sounds. This has important implications for application of AHDs in multispecies habitats, as sound levels required to deter less sensitive species (seals) can lead to excessive and unwanted large deterrence ranges on more sensitive species (porpoises).声学驱赶设备（Acoustic Harassment Devices，AHD），俗称“驱海豹器”，应用范围极为广泛：不仅可用于驱赶渔场周边的海豹，还可作为噪声减缓工具，帮助海洋哺乳动物规避海上打桩作业等潜在有害声源。为验证声学驱赶设备的驱避效果，我们针对两种关键受试物种开展了两项实验设计一致的研究，受试对象分别为港湾鼠海豚（harbour porpoises）与斑海豹（harbour seals）。实验中，我们向受试动物播放了模拟Lofitech型声学驱赶设备的12 kHz、500毫秒时长的音频脉冲串，但调低了输出强度，声源峰峰值为165 dB re 1µPa（参考声压级1微帕）。在音频暴露的前、中、后三个阶段，我们均通过经纬仪对受试动物进行定位。本次研究总计针对港湾鼠海豚开展12次音频暴露实验，针对斑海豹开展13次。实验结果显示，港湾鼠海豚会在距声源525米的范围内产生避声反应；与之截然相反的是，在扬声器100米范围内的斑海豹观测数量，在音频播放期间反而出现了上升。由此可见，港湾鼠海豚与斑海豹对声学驱赶设备的噪声响应存在显著差异。该结论对声学驱赶设备在多物种栖息环境中的应用具有重要指导价值：若要驱避敏感度较低的斑海豹，所需的声压级可能会对更为敏感的港湾鼠海豚造成过大且非预期的驱避范围。