Noise pollution spooks whales the way predators would, study finds
Noise pollution spooks whales the way predators would, study finds
Whales appear to react to human-made noise in the ocean, such as naval sonar, in a similar way to which they respond to the sounds of their predators like killer whales, according to recent research.
The authors of the study played the sounds of sonar and killer whales when whales from four species were present.
The whales responded by breaking off their feeding forays, leading scientists to conclude that noise pollution in the ocean could leave them weaker and more vulnerable to predation.
The researchers also suggest that marine mammals in the Arctic may be especially at risk as climate change alters their environment in ways that may make them more vulnerable.