Understanding the impacts of anthropogenic sound on beaked whales

This review considers the effect of anthropogenic sound on beaked whales2. Two major conclusions are presented: (1) gas-bubble disease, induced in supersaturated tissue by a behavioural response to acoustic exposure, is plausible pathologic mechanism for morbidity and mortality seen cetaceans associated with sonar exposure merits further investigation; (2) current monitoring mitigation methods whales ineffective detecting these animals protecting them from adverse exposure. In addition, four research priorities, needed address information gaps impacts whales, identified: controlled experiments assess whale responses known stimuli; investigation physiology, anatomy, pathobiology behaviour whales; (3) assessment baseline diving physiology (4) retrospective strandings.