ACS Monterey Bay Program for June 2010

Integrating Biological, Bioacoustic and Behavioral Response Studies
of Marine Mammals in southern California

Marine mammals around the world, including along the U.S. west coast, face many challenges due to interactions with people, from overfishing and entanglement to vessel strikes and disturbance from human sounds. Most of these issues remain poorly known and carefully conducted science is needed to better manage and protect marine animals.

SOCAL-10 is a research project integrated with ongoing studies of basic diving, foraging, social behavior, and sound production of marine mammals in important biological areas near southern California. It extends previous studies and is being integrated with international research efforts investigating whether and how animals change their behavior when they hear different sounds.

SOCAL-10 is an interdisciplinary collaboration of experts in marine mammal biology and behavior with extensive field experience in safely and ethically measuring responses to controlled sound exposures. This project will take place during August and September 2010 in coastal areas from San Diego to Santa Barbara and the Channel Islands, as well as an offshore area on and around the U.S. Navy’s training range near San Clemente Island.

This presentation presents a special opportunity for our Chapter and Monthly Meeting Attendees to comment on research that is intended to induce behavioral responses, but with protective shut-down measures, in marine mammals in order to better understand and protect them. Dr. Southall, Principal Investigator on SOCAL-10, has sought out the best ways to get feedback from the public segment interested in marine conservation before the research has begun and will listen closely to our questions and concerns.

Please join us for what promises to be a special opportunity to learn about the efforts being made to study the effect of anthropogenic noise in the marine environment. This will also be a great opportunity to discuss the goals, experimental design, and safety measures proposed for the project with the SOCAL-10 Principal Investigator, before field work begins.

Additional information, including a public summary of the project and some frequently asked questions, may be found at: http://www.sea-inc.net/SOCAL10.

Related web pages:

• Southall Environmental Associates
• SOCAL-10
• Dr. Brandon Southall
  

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