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Atlantic BRS 2019 – Multi-Scale CEE

 

A rainbow as we headed offshore proved to be good luck. Photo by Andy Read.

 

On August 6th, we conducted a successful Controlled Exposure Experiment with a group of four Cuvier’s beaked whales that included an individual equipped with a satellite-linked dive recorder (Zc93) and another whale (Zc19_218a) equipped with a Digital Acoustic Tag (DTAG). This is the first time we have been able to deploy both types of tags on the same group of beaked whales (although we have done this with pilot whales, which are much easier to tag). The advantage of the multi-scale approach is that we can collect hours of very fine-scale kinematic and acoustic behavior with the DTAG and days to weeks of coarser data on diving behavior and movements from the satellite-linked dive recorder.

 

The Digital Acoustic Tag – one of the workhorses in our research tool kit. Photo by Will Cioffi.

 

If this sounds like a tricky proposition, well, it is. We are able to intercept signals from the satellite-linked tag to home in on that animal, but then we have to approach the group closely enough to deploy the DTAG using a carbon-fiber pole. Fortunately, everything went to plan – we relocated the group with Zc93 soon after the R/V Barber arrived in the study area shortly after 9:00 and had the DTAG on one of its associates just before noon.

 

Zach Swaim attaching the DTAG to a Cuvier’s beaked whale off Cape Hatteras. Photo by Will Cioffi.

 

We then followed the group for five hours, attempting to get positions at each surfacing sequence. Our other boat, the Kahuna, deployed the scaled source and we conducted an hour-long playback of simulated sonar signals to the group. The whales responded by moving south, away from the Kahuna and making a couple of long dives, almost in succession.

 

Adult male Ziphius moving south rapidly following exposure to the simulated sonar signals. Photo by Will Cioffi.

 

We recovered the DTAG as planned, just after 5:00 PM and returned to shore, excited to look at the data it contained. Once we have downloaded the data from the DTAG, we can determine the exact Received Level (RL) of the sonar signal and also compare the data streams from the fine-scale DATG record and the coarser-scale satellite-linked dive recorder. Pretty cool.

 

Friendly greater shearwater around the R/V Barber while we waited for the beaked whales to surface. Photo by Will Cioffi.

August 11, 2019 aread@duke.edu

About the author

aread@duke.edu

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Contact Andy:

252-504-7590

aread*duke.edu

135 Duke Marine Lab Road

Beaufort, NC 28516

Recent news from our lab:

  • Atlantic BRS 2020 – First CEE
    Atlantic BRS 2020 – First CEE July 16, 2020
  • Atlantic BRS 2019 – Multi-Scale CEE
    Atlantic BRS 2019 – Multi-Scale CEE August 10, 2019
  • Atlantic BRS 2019 Underway
    Atlantic BRS 2019 Underway May 12, 2019
  • 2018 BRS – Second Phase – First Update
    2018 BRS – Second Phase – First Update August 16, 2018
  • Wrapping Up The First Phase of the 2018 Atlantic BRS
    Wrapping Up The First Phase of the 2018 Atlantic BRS June 25, 2018

Our group:

MCE@D
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