Effects of vessel traffic and ocean noise on gray whale stress hormones
Abstract Human use of marinescapes is rapidly increasing, especially in populated nearshore regions where recreational vessel traffic can be dense. Marine animals can have a physiological response to such elevated human activity that can impact individual health and population dynamics. To understan...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-14510-5 |
| _version_ | 1811329084084453376 |
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| author | Leila S. Lemos Joseph H. Haxel Amy Olsen Jonathan D. Burnett Angela Smith Todd E. Chandler Sharon L. Nieukirk Shawn E. Larson Kathleen E. Hunt Leigh G. Torres |
| author_facet | Leila S. Lemos Joseph H. Haxel Amy Olsen Jonathan D. Burnett Angela Smith Todd E. Chandler Sharon L. Nieukirk Shawn E. Larson Kathleen E. Hunt Leigh G. Torres |
| author_sort | Leila S. Lemos |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Human use of marinescapes is rapidly increasing, especially in populated nearshore regions where recreational vessel traffic can be dense. Marine animals can have a physiological response to such elevated human activity that can impact individual health and population dynamics. To understand the physiological impacts of vessel traffic on baleen whales, we investigated the adrenal stress response of gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) to variable vessel traffic levels through an assessment of fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGC) concentrations. This analysis was conducted at the individual level, at multiple temporal scales (1–7 days), and accounted for factors that may confound fGC: sex, age, nutritional status, and reproductive state. Data were collected in Oregon, USA, from June to October of 2016–2018. Results indicate significant correlations between fGC, month, and vessel counts from the day prior to fecal sample collection. Furthermore, we show a significant positive correlation between vessel traffic and underwater ambient noise levels, which indicates that noise produced by vessel traffic may be a causal factor for the increased fGC. This study increases knowledge of gray whale physiological response to vessel traffic and may inform management decisions regarding regulations of vessel traffic activities and thresholds near critical whale habitats. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T15:37:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-792b7d4a1da6477b8154e233b9a5e14c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T15:37:35Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-792b7d4a1da6477b8154e233b9a5e14c2022-12-22T02:41:14ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222022-11-0112111310.1038/s41598-022-14510-5Effects of vessel traffic and ocean noise on gray whale stress hormonesLeila S. Lemos0Joseph H. Haxel1Amy Olsen2Jonathan D. Burnett3Angela Smith4Todd E. Chandler5Sharon L. Nieukirk6Shawn E. Larson7Kathleen E. Hunt8Leigh G. Torres9Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna Lab, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Science, Marine Mammal Institute, Oregon State UniversityPacific Northwest National LaboratoryConservation Programs and Partnerships, Seattle AquariumAerial Information Systems Laboratory, Forest Engineering, Resources and Management Department, Oregon State UniversityConservation Programs and Partnerships, Seattle AquariumGeospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna Lab, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Science, Marine Mammal Institute, Oregon State UniversityPacific Northwest National LaboratoryConservation Programs and Partnerships, Seattle AquariumDepartment of Biology, Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation, George Mason UniversityGeospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna Lab, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Science, Marine Mammal Institute, Oregon State UniversityAbstract Human use of marinescapes is rapidly increasing, especially in populated nearshore regions where recreational vessel traffic can be dense. Marine animals can have a physiological response to such elevated human activity that can impact individual health and population dynamics. To understand the physiological impacts of vessel traffic on baleen whales, we investigated the adrenal stress response of gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) to variable vessel traffic levels through an assessment of fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGC) concentrations. This analysis was conducted at the individual level, at multiple temporal scales (1–7 days), and accounted for factors that may confound fGC: sex, age, nutritional status, and reproductive state. Data were collected in Oregon, USA, from June to October of 2016–2018. Results indicate significant correlations between fGC, month, and vessel counts from the day prior to fecal sample collection. Furthermore, we show a significant positive correlation between vessel traffic and underwater ambient noise levels, which indicates that noise produced by vessel traffic may be a causal factor for the increased fGC. This study increases knowledge of gray whale physiological response to vessel traffic and may inform management decisions regarding regulations of vessel traffic activities and thresholds near critical whale habitats.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-14510-5 |
| spellingShingle | Leila S. Lemos Joseph H. Haxel Amy Olsen Jonathan D. Burnett Angela Smith Todd E. Chandler Sharon L. Nieukirk Shawn E. Larson Kathleen E. Hunt Leigh G. Torres Effects of vessel traffic and ocean noise on gray whale stress hormones Scientific Reports |
| title | Effects of vessel traffic and ocean noise on gray whale stress hormones |
| title_full | Effects of vessel traffic and ocean noise on gray whale stress hormones |
| title_fullStr | Effects of vessel traffic and ocean noise on gray whale stress hormones |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of vessel traffic and ocean noise on gray whale stress hormones |
| title_short | Effects of vessel traffic and ocean noise on gray whale stress hormones |
| title_sort | effects of vessel traffic and ocean noise on gray whale stress hormones |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-14510-5 |
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