Scientific Literature: Searchable Database

Investigations on the behavioral responses of cetaceans to a variety of anthropogenic sounds are numerous, with a large proportion of these studies focused on responses to vessels (Nowacek et al. 2007; Richardson et al. 1995). Behavioral responses that affect activities associated with survival and reproduction are of particular concern because they have clearer repercussions on life functions. Furthermore, populations that are repeatedly exposed to vessels such as those that frequent urban ports and/or those targeted for vessel-based whale-watching activities also get particular attention given the consistency of the exposure (Clark et al. 2009; Jensen et al. 2009). Behavioral responses of killer whales to vessels include a decrease in foraging activity, an increase in dive duration and swim speed, and an increase in some surface-active behaviors (Lusseau et al. 2009; Noren et al. 2009; Williams et al. 2009). However, it remains unclear whether the physical presence and/or the sound emitted from motorized vessels is associated with the observed behavioral effects because information about received sound levels and other sound exposure variables were not reported in previous investigations.