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Acoustic detection probability of bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, with static acoustic dataloggers in Cardigan Bay, Wales

Acoustic detection probability of bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, with static acoustic dataloggers in Cardigan Bay, Wales
Acoustic detection probability of bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, with static acoustic dataloggers in Cardigan Bay, Wales
Acoustic dataloggers are used for monitoring the occurrence of cetaceans and can aid in fulfilling statutory monitoring requirements of protected species. Although useful for long-term monitoring, their spatial coverage is restricted, and for many devices the effective detection distance is not specified. A generalized additive mixed model (GAMM) was used to investigate the effects of (1) distance from datalogger, (2) animal behavior (feeding and traveling), and (3) group size on the detection probability of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) with autonomous dataloggers (C-PODs) validated with visual observations. The average probability of acoustic detection for minutes with a sighting was 0.59 and the maximum detection distance ranged from 1343–1779?m. Minutes with feeding activity had higher acoustic detection rates and longer average effective detection radius (EDR) than traveling ones. The detection probability for single dolphins was significantly higher than for groups, indicating that their acoustic behavior may differ from those of larger groups in the area, making them more detectable. The C-POD is effective at detecting dolphin presence but the effects of behavior and group size on detectability create challenges for estimating density from detections as higher detection rate of feeding dolphins could yield erroneously high density estimates in feeding areas.
0001-4966
2596-2609
Nuuttila, Hanna K.
3e8210f7-55f3-4927-89de-c863e81a3d86
Thomas, Len
6fa3405c-4048-4dc2-8e34-fe38ccc77b1f
Hiddink, Jan G.
10e4b1e4-7a7a-4027-8489-4de1916e9504
Meier, Rhiannon
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Turner, John R.
4f9c2daa-da08-48da-827f-fdc4c7fb1c72
Bennell, James D.
911c64cb-afd9-44d3-afa6-3b88656086c8
Tregenza, Nick J.C.
3349ad12-db22-4a22-a24d-415a6a4576dc
Evans, Peter G.H.
5fbb159e-e947-4bb1-b49c-a578dd1336b0
Nuuttila, Hanna K.
3e8210f7-55f3-4927-89de-c863e81a3d86
Thomas, Len
6fa3405c-4048-4dc2-8e34-fe38ccc77b1f
Hiddink, Jan G.
10e4b1e4-7a7a-4027-8489-4de1916e9504
Meier, Rhiannon
987cfb29-5162-484d-b33c-3cb891cd9b68
Turner, John R.
4f9c2daa-da08-48da-827f-fdc4c7fb1c72
Bennell, James D.
911c64cb-afd9-44d3-afa6-3b88656086c8
Tregenza, Nick J.C.
3349ad12-db22-4a22-a24d-415a6a4576dc
Evans, Peter G.H.
5fbb159e-e947-4bb1-b49c-a578dd1336b0

Nuuttila, Hanna K., Thomas, Len, Hiddink, Jan G., Meier, Rhiannon, Turner, John R., Bennell, James D., Tregenza, Nick J.C. and Evans, Peter G.H. (2013) Acoustic detection probability of bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, with static acoustic dataloggers in Cardigan Bay, Wales. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 134 (3), 2596-2609. (doi:10.1121/1.4816586).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Acoustic dataloggers are used for monitoring the occurrence of cetaceans and can aid in fulfilling statutory monitoring requirements of protected species. Although useful for long-term monitoring, their spatial coverage is restricted, and for many devices the effective detection distance is not specified. A generalized additive mixed model (GAMM) was used to investigate the effects of (1) distance from datalogger, (2) animal behavior (feeding and traveling), and (3) group size on the detection probability of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) with autonomous dataloggers (C-PODs) validated with visual observations. The average probability of acoustic detection for minutes with a sighting was 0.59 and the maximum detection distance ranged from 1343–1779?m. Minutes with feeding activity had higher acoustic detection rates and longer average effective detection radius (EDR) than traveling ones. The detection probability for single dolphins was significantly higher than for groups, indicating that their acoustic behavior may differ from those of larger groups in the area, making them more detectable. The C-POD is effective at detecting dolphin presence but the effects of behavior and group size on detectability create challenges for estimating density from detections as higher detection rate of feeding dolphins could yield erroneously high density estimates in feeding areas.

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Published date: 2013
Organisations: Geology & Geophysics

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Local EPrints ID: 378029
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/378029
ISSN: 0001-4966
PURE UUID: d50a3cde-ee9a-49c9-99bb-69d6c73b94f0

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Date deposited: 15 Jun 2015 09:57
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 20:14

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Contributors

Author: Hanna K. Nuuttila
Author: Len Thomas
Author: Jan G. Hiddink
Author: Rhiannon Meier
Author: John R. Turner
Author: James D. Bennell
Author: Nick J.C. Tregenza
Author: Peter G.H. Evans

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