Mapping the Southern Residents’ Acoustic Habitat Increasing awareness of anthropogenic noise Brett Becker Bellingham, Washington Increasing awareness of anthropogenic noise Brett Becker Bellingham, Washington

Recent studies on sound in the marine environment Significant amount of research is being done attempting to characterize human made marine noise and its effects on sea creatures. Workshop on the Effects of Anthropogenic Noise in the Marine Environment (Gisner 1998) Oceans of Noise: A Whale Dolphin Conservation report (Simmonds, Dolman & Weilgart 2004)

What is Anthropogenic noise? Human pollution of the acoustic environment is on the rise in recent decades. Industrial noise. Noise ordinance laws reflect general cultural dissatisfaction with increased levels of noise pollution. What else do humans have to add?

Interactive research Peter Beamish “Rhythm Based Communication” (RBC) Jim Nolman Music as a means to inter-species communication David Dunn Humans are a part of the larger “eco-systemic mental structure”

Effects of noise on humans Increased stress hormones Higher blood pressure Learned helplessness Masking

Sound in water Sound travels 5 times as fast in water than in air Electromagnetic waves like light do not travel well in water Underwater organisms rely on sound waves the way we do light waves.

Passive use of sound by marine fauna Detection of predators location and detection of prey. Proximity perception of co-species in school Perception of changing environmental conditions “Acoustic illumination” akin to daylight vision

Active use of sound by marine fauna Communication with co-species for breeding and feeding. Territorial and social relations Echolocation Stunning and apprehending prey Alarm calls Long distance navigation Defense

Sources of anthropogenic noise Vessel traffic (tankers, cargo, fishing, whale watching, recreational) “single largest contributor to the total acoustic budget of the ocean” (Gisner 1998) Other sources Sonar Seismic surveys Drilling, Pile Driving Explosions

attempts to map noise Tend to visual orientation Tend to limit focus to physical properties properties of sound (intensity, frequency) Limits Easily forgotten Over simplification

frequency map

Loudness map

New tools for a new day Listening is important Provides direction experience Presents whole acoustic ecosystem Internet & satellite GPS Help create ‘global village’

Puget Soundscape map Integrates actual recordings Locates recordings in GPS coordinates Available for all anthros with internet Allows for further recordings to be added

the process Utilized all recordings made by crew Files selection technique sample as microcosm 30 seconds mp3 compression Google Maps API

The map undscape/pugetsoundscape.html

What i heard There is a massive amount of boat noise out there It is monotonous Low information content People are unaware of or have grown apathetic of noise pollution

The message = hope Increases global awareness of marine noise public awareness = noise ordinance? Remember the other higher life forms Listen more What are we contributing to global chorus?