FINAL REPORT Tagging and Playback Studies to Toothed Whales

While atypical mass strandings of beaked whales have been linked to naval exercises using midfrequency sonar, the causal chain of events from sound exposure to stranding has not been elucidated. We now know that beaked whales react strongly to sonar, killer whale, and bandlimited noise by ceasing echolocation and completing an unusually slow, directional ascent, in many cases leaving area entirely (Pirotta et al., 2012; Tyack et al., 2011; DeRuiter et al. 2013). Less is known about potential risks to other species of odontocetes that are exposed to sonar during navy exercises. This project is part of a collaborative research program with the goals to: