Marine Mammal Populations and Ocean Noise. Determining When Noise Causes Biologically Significant Effects

摘要

In its 2000 report, Marine Mammals and Low-frequency Sound, the National Research Council recommended that the Marine Mammal Protection Act definition of Level B harassment should be limited to meaningful disruption of biologically significant activities that could affect demographically important variables such as reproduction and longevity. Recognizing that the term 'biologically significant' is increasingly used in resource management and conservation plans, this study will further describe the scientific basis of the term in the context of marine mammal conservation and management related to ocean noise. Based on input from a scientific workshop, consideration of the relevant literature, and other sources, the committee will produce a brief report that reviews and characterizes the current scientific understanding of when animal behavior modifications induced by transient and non-transient ocean acoustic sources, individually or cumulatively affect individuals in ways that have negative consequences for populations.