Seasonal Trends in Acoustic Detection of Marine Mammals in Baffin Bay and Melville Bay, Northwest Greenland + Supplementary Appendix 1 (See Article Tools)

Héloïse Frouin-Mouy,Bruce Martin,Katie Kowarski,Koen Bröker

doi:10.14430/arctic4632

Abstract

The expansion of hydrocarbon exploration in northwest Greenland has made it increasingly important to understand the occurrence of marine mammals in the region. We describe the seasonal occurrence of marine mammals and the spatial distribution of their calls in Baffin Bay and Melville Bay. Four Autonomous Multichannel Acoustic Recorders (AMARs) were deployed during summer 2012 (late July to early October), five recorders during September 2013, and two recorders from late September 2013 to early September 2014. The call presence of several species was analyzed using automatic call detection and manual verification analysis methods. A novel approach to discern narwhal (Monodon monoceros) clicks from beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) clicks was implemented during the verification process. Narwhal calls were detected in spring and fall, showing a south-to-north migration pattern in spring and a north-to-south migration pattern in fall. Few beluga whales were detected during fall 2013 and spring 2014. Bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus) calls were detected mainly during spring (mating period). A small number of bowhead whale calls (Balaena mysticetus) were detected during fall 2013 and spring and summer 2014. For the first time at this latitude in Baffin Bay, long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) and sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) were detected during summer and fall. Our results suggest that the presence of marine mammals in Baffin Bay and Melville Bay is governed mainly by the annual cycle of sea ice formation and decay.

Highlights

The waters of Baffin Bay and Melville Bay off northwest Greenland are some of the most productive and tightly connected physical-biological systems in the marine environment (Laidre et al, 2010)
We examine the acoustic presence of several marine mammal species and describe a method to differentiate narwhal clicks from beluga whale clicks when repertoires overlap
Beluga whales, bearded seals, bowhead whales, long-finned pilot whales, and sperm whales were acoustically detected off northwest Greenland

Summary

Introduction

The waters of Baffin Bay and Melville Bay off northwest Greenland are some of the most productive and tightly connected physical-biological systems in the marine environment (Laidre et al, 2010). In 2010, five petroleum exploration license blocks were awarded in Baffin Bay (Fig. 1), and the potential opening of the Northwest Passage could lead to regular vessel transits in this area. Vessels associated with transportation and oil and gas exploration and production have the potential to change the soundscape and affect local species, marine mammals (Heide-Jørgensen et al, 2013b). Marine mammals depend on sounds for many critical life processes such as navigating, communicating, monitoring young, mating-related and social displays, and foraging (Tyack and Clark, 2000). The masking effects of anthropogenic noise can disrupt such crucial activities, leading to reduced fitness, loss of usable habitat, or both (Bejder et al, 2006)

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Results

Conclusion