Dimitri Ponirakis

TL;DR: An analytical paradigm to quantify changes in an animal's acoustic communication space as a result of spatial, spectral, and temporal changes in background noise is presented, providing a functional defini- tion of communication masking for free-ranging animals and a metric to quantify the potential for communicationmasking.

TL;DR: Noise produced by large commercial vessels was at levels and within frequencies that warrant concern among managers regarding the ability of endangered whales to maintain acoustic contact within greater sanctuary waters.

TL;DR: Methods of quantifying the effects of communication masking associated with human-induced sound on contact-calling North Atlantic right whales can be used to integrate chronic and wide-ranging noise effects in emerging ocean-planning forums that seek to improve management of cumulative effects of noise on marine species and their habitats.

TL;DR: Noise levels were highest in legally designated killer whale critical habitats, and noise levels were generally lower in habitats known to be important for baleen whales, but these quieter areas are not yet given special legal protection.

TL;DR: This study utilizes modeling approaches to evaluate relative levels of masking for 4 baleen whale species from the combination of current ambient noise conditions and noise from discrete vessels operating in the Stellwagen Bank Nat ional Marine Sanctuary, developing the framework by which to comparatively quantify masking.