Zeitschrift für Ozeanographie und Meeresforschung
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Effect of Low-Frequency Noise on Humpback Whale Behaviors

Ali. Jebelli, Mustapha CE Yagoub, Balbir S Dhillon and Nafiseh Lotfi

This paper investigates the effects of low frequencies (20Hz-80Hz) signals on whales’ behavior in their natural environment, the purpose being to investigate the probable link of such frequency waves on their collisions with watercrafts, and their grounding. To this aim, the sounds produced by whales to communicate between them were first recorded using an autonomous underwater vehicle designed, fabricated and successfully tested by the authors. Then, a series of tests were conducted, which demonstrated that, indeed, low frequencies can dramatically perturb the ability of whales to detect and circumvent obstacles, as well as to properly find a safe pathway.