Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Antarctic Marine Mammal Ecology using Passive Acoustic Monitoring  (Marine Mammal Passive Acoustic Monitoring (MMPAM))

Outline
Marine Mammal Passive Acoustic Monitoring (MMPAM) q1_3_Outline : Baleen whales were heavily harvested in the Antarctic during the first half of the 20th century. It is estimated that over a million blue and fin whales were taken during this period Even though commercial whaling ended in 1965, the populations of blue and fin whales are showing slow rates of recovery and current low sighting rates compromise population estimates using traditional visual survey techniques. With the wholesale removal of blue and other large baleen whales, populations of Antarctic seals and penguins are thought to have increased to fill the “krill-eating” niche vacated by whales. Although at some trophic levels, Antarctic marine biodiversity is valued for its relatively pristine state, Antarctic top predators have been severely impacted by commercial whaling. This project will investigate the way that physical and biological processes in the Antarctic interact to determine the patterns of distribution and abundance of marine mammals. It will contribute critical, new information towards our understanding of the links between Antarctic marine top predators and biological and physical processes in this dynamic ecosystem. Current models of these ecosystems lack input from marine mammal studies. Our approach is aimed at addressing these existing gaps in the quantitative experimental data available for input to ecological models. Our project will provide data on top predators for the Census of Antarctic Marine Life (CAML). We propose to use passive acoustic monitoring, in concert with detailed habitat studies, to assess marine mammal populations in the Antarctic. A series of moorings with passive acoustic sensors will provide data on the full range of marine mammal species. These acoustic moorings will be coordinated with proposed international efforts of the Census of Antarctic Marine Life to provide circumpolar coverage of the Antarctic region. Specific goals of the proposed program are to determine seasonality and abundance of blue, fin, humpback, sei, right, minke, killer and sperm whales, as well as crabeater, Weddell, leopard and Ross seals. These data will allow us to model how physical and biological oceanographic conditions affect marine mammal habitat, distribution and abundance.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
We will obtain the first compreshensive assessment of marine mammal presence in the Antarctic region using passive acoustic monitoring.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
We have been collaborating with several international Antarctic research orgainzations on marine mammal monitoring using acoustics. These collaborations include: International Whaling Commission (Deborah Thiele). Australian Anatrctic Division (Nick Gales)

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Acoustic monitoring would be conducted along several transects, positioned to take advantage of support logistics for Antarctic research bases.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: n/a
Antarctic: Jan 2008 - Jan 2013            

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Access to polar marine research vessels.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
The project will leave a legacy of acoustic moniroting instracture.

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Consortium

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
The project has been presented at the International Whaling Commission and also featured in the GLOBEC newsletter.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?
Exp

The project is an expansion of on-going activities.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The project will be coordinated between several Anatractic research organizations - listed above.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
We have recently developed a museum exhibit on marine mammal acoustics, now at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California. We plan to expand this exhibit into a www site and include additional outreach materials on marine mammals and antarctic ecology. We have also been collaborating with the Ocean Institute in Dana Point, California on developing a high school program in marine bioacoustics.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
The project will generate large volumes of acoustic data (TBytes) and we hope to both archive these data at regional facilities within the Anatarctic research institutes, as well as maintain a centrl data archive.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Support will be requested from the National Science Foundation for US participation, and funds will be requested within each of the collaborating Antarctic reserach institutions. Funds will also be requested from the International Whaling Commission.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr John Hildebrand
Scripps Inst. of Oceanography
University of California San Diego
La Jolla, California
92093-0205
USA

Tel: 858 534-4069
Mobile: no
Fax: 858 534-6849
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation