The performance of large-aperture hydrophone arrays to detect and localize blue and fin whales’ signature vocalizations under ocean noise conditions was assessed through simulations from a normal mode propagation model combined to noise statistics from of recordings in Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park. The probability density functions of 2482 summer noise level estimates in the call bands were used to attach a probability of detection/masking to the simulated call levels as a function of whale depth and range for typical environmental conditions. Results indicate that call detection was modulated by the calling depth relative to the sound channel axis and by modal constructive and destructive interferences with range. Masking of loud infrasounds could reach 40% at for a receiver at the optimal depth. The weaker blue whale D-call were subject to severe masking. Mapping the percentages of detection and localization allowed assessing the performance of a six-hydrophone array under mean- and low-noise conditions. This approach is helpful for optimizing hydrophone configuration in implementing passive acoustic monitoring arrays and building their detection function for whale density assessment, as an alternative to or in combination with the traditional undersampling visual methods.
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June 2008
June 01 2008
Passive acoustic detection and localization of whales: Effects of shipping noise in Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Parka)
Yvan Simard;
Yvan Simard
c)
Maurice Lamontagne Institute
, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 850 Route de la Mer, Mont-Joli, Québec G5H-3Z4, Canada. Marine Sciences Institute, University of Québec at Rimouski
, 310 Allée des Ursulines, Rimouski, Québec G5L-3A1, Canada
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Nathalie Roy;
Nathalie Roy
d)
Maurice Lamontagne Institute
, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 850 Route de la Mer, Mont-Joli, Québec G5H-3Z4, Canada. Marine Sciences Institute, University of Québec at Rimouski
, 310 Allée des Ursulines, Rimouski, Québec G5L-3A1, Canada
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Cédric Gervaise
Cédric Gervaise
e)
E3I2
, EA3876, ENSIETA, GIS Europole Mer, 2 Rue François Verny, 29200 Brest, France
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c)
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Electronic addresses: yvan.simard@dfo-mpo.gc.ca and yvan_simard@uqar.qc.ca.
d)
Electronic mail: nathalie.roy@dfo-mpo.qc.ca
e)
Electronic mail: Cedric.Gervaise@ensieta.fr.
a)
Part of this work was presented in “Masking of blue and fin whales low-frequency vocalizations by shipping noise in the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park,” Proceedings of International Conference on Effects of Noise on Aquatic Life, Nyborg, 13–17 August 2007.
J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 123, 4109–4117 (2008)
Article history
Received:
September 19 2007
Accepted:
April 01 2008
Citation
Yvan Simard, Nathalie Roy, Cédric Gervaise; Passive acoustic detection and localization of whales: Effects of shipping noise in Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 1 June 2008; 123 (6): 4109–4117. https://doi.org/10.1121/1.2912453
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