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Behavioral response of manatees to variations in environmental sound levels

January 1, 2011

Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) inhabit coastal regions because they feed on the aquatic vegetation that grows in shallow waters, which are the same areas where human activities are greatest. Noise produced from anthropogenic and natural sources has the potential to affect these animals by eliciting responses ranging from mild behavioral changes to extreme aversion. Sound levels were calculated from recordings made throughout behavioral observation periods. An information theoretic approach was used to investigate the relationship between behavior patterns and sound level. Results indicated that elevated sound levels affect manatee activity and are a function of behavioral state. The proportion of time manatees spent feeding and milling changed in response to sound level. When ambient sound levels were highest, more time was spent in the directed, goal-oriented behavior of feeding, whereas less time was spent engaged in undirected behavior such as milling. This work illustrates how shifts in activity of individual manatees may be useful parameters for identifying impacts of noise on manatees and might inform population level effects.

Publication Year 2011
Title Behavioral response of manatees to variations in environmental sound levels
DOI 10.1111/j.1748-7692.2010.00381.x
Authors Jennifer L. Miksis-Olds, Tyler Wagner
Publication Type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Series Title Marine Mammal Science
Index ID 70033913
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
USGS Organization Coop Res Unit Leetown
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