15: Ocean Basin Impact of Ambient Noise on Marine Mammal Detectability, Distribution, and Acoustic Communication

The ultimate goal of this research was to enhance the understanding of global ocean noise and how variability in sound level impacts marine mammal acoustic communication and signal detection. How short term variability and long term changes of ocean basin acoustics impact signal detection was considered by examining 1) the variability in low frequency ocean sound levels and sources, and 2) the relationship of sound variability on signal detection as it relates to marine mammal active acoustic space and acoustic communication. This work increases the spatial range and time scale of prior studies conducted at a local or regional scale. The comparison of acoustic time series from different ocean basins provides a synoptic perspective for observing and monitoring ocean noise on multiple times scales in both hemispheres as economic and climate conditions change. Quantified changes in the acoustic environment were then applied to the investigation of ocean noise issues related to general signal detection tasks, as well as marine mammal acoustic detection and impacts.