Underwater Noise Level Recordings from a Water Intake Pontoon and Possible Impacts on Yangtze Finless Porpoises in a Natural Reserve
Underwater noise pollution caused by human activities may affect freshwater cetaceans to different degrees. To analyze the impacts of water intake pontoons on Yangtze finless porpoises (<i>Neophocaena asiaeorientalis</i>), this study collected underwater noise data from such a pontoon in...
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MDPI AG
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/17/2183 |
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| author | Wenfei Lu Jianfeng Tong Xianfeng Zhang Bin Zhu Weiwei Dong |
| author_facet | Wenfei Lu Jianfeng Tong Xianfeng Zhang Bin Zhu Weiwei Dong |
| author_sort | Wenfei Lu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Underwater noise pollution caused by human activities may affect freshwater cetaceans to different degrees. To analyze the impacts of water intake pontoons on Yangtze finless porpoises (<i>Neophocaena asiaeorientalis</i>), this study collected underwater noise data from such a pontoon in a nature reserve, plotted the power spectral density of acoustic signals, and calculated the root mean square sound pressure levels and the magnitude of sound source levels. The 1/3-octave sound pressure level root mean square values at the transient holding pens were <18.0 kHz, 39.5−60.0 kHz, which were slightly higher than the Yangtze finless porpoise hearing threshold curve values and therefore could be perceived. However, the results indicated that the porpoises would not develop a temporary hearing threshold shift. Meanwhile, pontoon noise did not interfere with the porpoises’ high-frequency acoustic signal nor did it affect their echolocation; it significantly interfered with their low-frequency acoustic signal, however, and the mother–child communication of the finless porpoises was affected, but this effect was quickly compensated due to the limited space range of the holding pens. Through this study of Yangtze finless porpoises, this paper provides a reference for assessing whether human facilities have impacts on freshwater cetaceans. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:08:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-02fefdaf2aad4d72831e2f40a364fc0b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:08:09Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-02fefdaf2aad4d72831e2f40a364fc0b2023-11-23T12:36:36ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152022-08-011217218310.3390/ani12172183Underwater Noise Level Recordings from a Water Intake Pontoon and Possible Impacts on Yangtze Finless Porpoises in a Natural ReserveWenfei Lu0Jianfeng Tong1Xianfeng Zhang2Bin Zhu3Weiwei Dong4College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, ChinaCollege of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, ChinaInstitute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, ChinaInstitute of Hydroecology, MWR&CAS, Wuhan 430079, ChinaInstitute of Hydroecology, MWR&CAS, Wuhan 430079, ChinaUnderwater noise pollution caused by human activities may affect freshwater cetaceans to different degrees. To analyze the impacts of water intake pontoons on Yangtze finless porpoises (<i>Neophocaena asiaeorientalis</i>), this study collected underwater noise data from such a pontoon in a nature reserve, plotted the power spectral density of acoustic signals, and calculated the root mean square sound pressure levels and the magnitude of sound source levels. The 1/3-octave sound pressure level root mean square values at the transient holding pens were <18.0 kHz, 39.5−60.0 kHz, which were slightly higher than the Yangtze finless porpoise hearing threshold curve values and therefore could be perceived. However, the results indicated that the porpoises would not develop a temporary hearing threshold shift. Meanwhile, pontoon noise did not interfere with the porpoises’ high-frequency acoustic signal nor did it affect their echolocation; it significantly interfered with their low-frequency acoustic signal, however, and the mother–child communication of the finless porpoises was affected, but this effect was quickly compensated due to the limited space range of the holding pens. Through this study of Yangtze finless porpoises, this paper provides a reference for assessing whether human facilities have impacts on freshwater cetaceans.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/17/2183Yangtze finless porpoiseunderwater noisewater intake pontoonnatural reserve |
| spellingShingle | Wenfei Lu Jianfeng Tong Xianfeng Zhang Bin Zhu Weiwei Dong Underwater Noise Level Recordings from a Water Intake Pontoon and Possible Impacts on Yangtze Finless Porpoises in a Natural Reserve Animals Yangtze finless porpoise underwater noise water intake pontoon natural reserve |
| title | Underwater Noise Level Recordings from a Water Intake Pontoon and Possible Impacts on Yangtze Finless Porpoises in a Natural Reserve |
| title_full | Underwater Noise Level Recordings from a Water Intake Pontoon and Possible Impacts on Yangtze Finless Porpoises in a Natural Reserve |
| title_fullStr | Underwater Noise Level Recordings from a Water Intake Pontoon and Possible Impacts on Yangtze Finless Porpoises in a Natural Reserve |
| title_full_unstemmed | Underwater Noise Level Recordings from a Water Intake Pontoon and Possible Impacts on Yangtze Finless Porpoises in a Natural Reserve |
| title_short | Underwater Noise Level Recordings from a Water Intake Pontoon and Possible Impacts on Yangtze Finless Porpoises in a Natural Reserve |
| title_sort | underwater noise level recordings from a water intake pontoon and possible impacts on yangtze finless porpoises in a natural reserve |
| topic | Yangtze finless porpoise underwater noise water intake pontoon natural reserve |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/17/2183 |
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