Investigating the Effects of Vessel Traffic on Marine Mammal Vocalizations in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
Project ID: P15AC00332
Federal Agency: National Park Service
Partner Institution: Oregon State University
Fiscal Year: 2015
Initial Funding: $275,709
Total Funding: $275,709
Project Type: Research
Project Disciplines: Biological
National Park: Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve
Principal Investigator: Klinck, Holger
Agreement Technical Representative: Gabriele, Christine
Abstract: Nearly all visitors to Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve arrive via motor vessels, yet critical information is lacking on the impacts of vessel noise on marine mammal vocal behavior and the role of acoustic communication associated with vital functions. This information gap hampers an adequate assessment of the impacts of vessel traffic noise on the underwater sound environment. During two field seasons of data collection in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, researchers from Oregon State University will collaborate with the National Park Service to use passive acoustic monitoring in conjunction with land-based visual observations to study the behavior and distribution of humpback whales and harbor seals in relation to Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve vessel traffic. Oregon State University and the National Park Service will collaborate on analyzing and interpreting these data and developing products that: (1) increase our understanding of the vocal behavior of two predominant marine mammal species in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, (2) quantitatively assess acoustic properties of the Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve soundscape, (3) assess the impact of vessel noise on the vocal behavior of these species, and (4) can be used to raise awareness of the importance of the underwater soundscape to these marine mammals through a variety of outreach and educational tools.
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