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Widely used marine seismic survey air gun operations negatively impact zooplankton
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-19, 06:17 authored by McCauley, RD, Ryan DayRyan Day, Kerrie SwadlingKerrie Swadling, Quinn FitzgibbonQuinn Fitzgibbon, Reginald WatsonReginald Watson, Jayson SemmensJayson SemmensZooplankton underpin the health and productivity of global marine ecosystems. Here we present evidence that suggests seismic surveys cause significant mortality to zooplankton populations. Seismic surveys are used extensively to explore for petroleum resources using intense, low-frequency, acoustic impulse signals. Experimental air gun signal exposure decreased zooplankton abundance when compared with controls, as measured by sonar (∼3-4 dB drop within 15-30 min) and net tows (median 64% decrease within 1 h), and caused a two- to threefold increase in dead adult and larval zooplankton. Impacts were observed out to the maximum 1.2 km range sampled, which was more than two orders of magnitude greater than the previously assumed impact range of 10 m. Although no adult krill were present, all larval krill were killed after air gun passage. There is a significant and unacknowledged potential for ocean ecosystem function and productivity to be negatively impacted by present seismic technology.
History
Publication title
Nature Ecology & EvolutionArticle number
0195Number
0195Pagination
1-8ISSN
2397-334XDepartment/School
Institute for Marine and Antarctic StudiesPublisher
Nature Publishing GroupPlace of publication
4 Crinan St, London, N1 9XW United KingdomRights statement
© 2017 Macmillan Publishers LimitedRepository Status
- Restricted