Response of Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) to underwater acoustic harassment device sounds
Abstract Seal scarers (or acoustic harassment devices, AHDs) are designed to deter seals from fishing gear and aquaculture operations, as well as to prevent seals from entering rivers to avoid predation on valuable fish. Our study investigated the potential effects of AHDs on non-target species, spe...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-55481-z |
| _version_ | 1797274873600409600 |
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| author | Emilie Nicoline Stepien Anders Galatius Kirstin Anderson Hansen Jacob Nabe-Nielsen Jonas Teilmann Magnus Wahlberg |
| author_facet | Emilie Nicoline Stepien Anders Galatius Kirstin Anderson Hansen Jacob Nabe-Nielsen Jonas Teilmann Magnus Wahlberg |
| author_sort | Emilie Nicoline Stepien |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Seal scarers (or acoustic harassment devices, AHDs) are designed to deter seals from fishing gear and aquaculture operations, as well as to prevent seals from entering rivers to avoid predation on valuable fish. Our study investigated the potential effects of AHDs on non-target species, specifically the Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra), by testing the reaction of two rehabilitated otters to simulated AHDs sounds at 1 and 14 kHz, with a received sound intensity of 105–145 dB re 1 µPa rms. The 1 kHz sounds were used to investigate alternative frequencies for scaring seals without scaring otters. The otters reacted to both 1 and 14 kHz tonal signals when retrieving fish from a feeding station 0.8 m below the surface. Their diving behaviour and time to extract food progressively increased as sound intensity increased for all tested sound levels. Notably, the sound levels used in our tests were significantly lower (40–80 dB) than the source levels from commercial AHDs. These findings highlight the importance of caution when using AHDs in river and sea habitats inhabited by otters, as AHDs can change their behaviour and potentially result in habitat exclusion. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:04:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7a1436b51c2d464cb7418df9285343c9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:04:22Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-7a1436b51c2d464cb7418df9285343c92024-03-05T18:58:26ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-02-0114111110.1038/s41598-024-55481-zResponse of Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) to underwater acoustic harassment device soundsEmilie Nicoline Stepien0Anders Galatius1Kirstin Anderson Hansen2Jacob Nabe-Nielsen3Jonas Teilmann4Magnus Wahlberg5Marine Mammal Research, Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus UniversityMarine Mammal Research, Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus UniversityMarine Biological Research Centre, Department of Biology, University of Southern DenmarkMarine Mammal Research, Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus UniversityMarine Mammal Research, Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus UniversityMarine Biological Research Centre, Department of Biology, University of Southern DenmarkAbstract Seal scarers (or acoustic harassment devices, AHDs) are designed to deter seals from fishing gear and aquaculture operations, as well as to prevent seals from entering rivers to avoid predation on valuable fish. Our study investigated the potential effects of AHDs on non-target species, specifically the Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra), by testing the reaction of two rehabilitated otters to simulated AHDs sounds at 1 and 14 kHz, with a received sound intensity of 105–145 dB re 1 µPa rms. The 1 kHz sounds were used to investigate alternative frequencies for scaring seals without scaring otters. The otters reacted to both 1 and 14 kHz tonal signals when retrieving fish from a feeding station 0.8 m below the surface. Their diving behaviour and time to extract food progressively increased as sound intensity increased for all tested sound levels. Notably, the sound levels used in our tests were significantly lower (40–80 dB) than the source levels from commercial AHDs. These findings highlight the importance of caution when using AHDs in river and sea habitats inhabited by otters, as AHDs can change their behaviour and potentially result in habitat exclusion.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-55481-zAHDSeal scarerBehavioural responseHabitat exclusionFeeding disruptionFishery |
| spellingShingle | Emilie Nicoline Stepien Anders Galatius Kirstin Anderson Hansen Jacob Nabe-Nielsen Jonas Teilmann Magnus Wahlberg Response of Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) to underwater acoustic harassment device sounds Scientific Reports AHD Seal scarer Behavioural response Habitat exclusion Feeding disruption Fishery |
| title | Response of Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) to underwater acoustic harassment device sounds |
| title_full | Response of Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) to underwater acoustic harassment device sounds |
| title_fullStr | Response of Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) to underwater acoustic harassment device sounds |
| title_full_unstemmed | Response of Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) to underwater acoustic harassment device sounds |
| title_short | Response of Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) to underwater acoustic harassment device sounds |
| title_sort | response of eurasian otters lutra lutra to underwater acoustic harassment device sounds |
| topic | AHD Seal scarer Behavioural response Habitat exclusion Feeding disruption Fishery |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-55481-z |
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