Abstract

Abstract : This project is developing the use of fecal steroid hormone assays to assess stress responses in Blainville s beaked whales (Mesoplodon densirostris, BBW) and sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) residing in the northern Bahamas. These species were chosen to include a particularly acoustically-sensitive cetacean (beaked whales) and a co-occurring species (sperm whales) for comparison. The goal is to determine baseline fecal hormone levels for reference populations of these two deep-diving whale species, characterizing the natural variations in stress-related hormones according to life history stage (age, sex, reproductive status). The results of this project will set the stage for future research comparing levels of the same stress-related hormones in beaked and sperm whales inhabiting the nearby U.S. Navy Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center (AUTEC) or other habitats with known acoustic exposures from man-made sounds. This approach uses quantifiable alterations in stress-related fecal hormones to determine whether anthropogenic noise is causing measurable physiological changes that can potentially lead to biologically significant effects on individuals and populations.

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