Preliminary soundscape observations from a Colombian humpback whale breeding ground before port construction

Abstract

The Gulf of Tribuga in the Colombian Pacific is still relatively undisturbed. No road access between villages nor from major urban areas exists. Small boats and walking beaches at low tide serve as the main transportation conduits. In this breeding ground for humpback whale Stock G, small-scale artisanal and shrimp fisheries and whale-watching activities support the livelihood of local communities but may already interfere with biological communication systems. Once a proposed international port is built anthropogenic pressure is expected to increase. Baseline information is key to understand the Gulf's current acoustic state and to document the best approximation of its practically pristine state. An ecological Acoustic Recorder (EAR, Oceanwide Science Institute) was deployed between the largest town (about 2000 residents) and the southern boundary of the Utria National Park marine reserve from October to December, 2018. Also, opportunistic over-the-side recordings from July to September, 2018, provided point surveys at a greater spatial resolution during peak humpback whale breeding season. Results include the first acoustic catalogue of the area and a preliminary understanding of important bandwidths for future monitoring and current contributions of small vessels to the soundscape.The Gulf of Tribuga in the Colombian Pacific is still relatively undisturbed. No road access between villages nor from major urban areas exists. Small boats and walking beaches at low tide serve as the main transportation conduits. In this breeding ground for humpback whale Stock G, small-scale artisanal and shrimp fisheries and whale-watching activities support the livelihood of local communities but may already interfere with biological communication systems. Once a proposed international port is built anthropogenic pressure is expected to increase. Baseline information is key to understand the Gulf's current acoustic state and to document the best approximation of its practically pristine state. An ecological Acoustic Recorder (EAR, Oceanwide Science Institute) was deployed between the largest town (about 2000 residents) and the southern boundary of the Utria National Park marine reserve from October to December, 2018. Also, opportunistic over-the-side recordings from July to September, 2018, provided ...