Studying Impacts of Underwater Noise on Leatherback Sea Turtles

CFF just published a new study on how underwater noise impacts leatherback sea turtles. Marine ecosystems in the Northwest Atlantic are expected to experience a sudden and sustained increase in underwater noise due to ocean development. To investigate sea turtle responses to impulsive sounds, researchers tagged leatherbacks at a seasonal foraging ground. 13 turtles were equipped with data loggers recording: Video, Sound, Depth, and Location. Our analysis of the data found that the probability of foraging declined by approximately 64% during sound exposure. These behavioral shifts and their potential to decrease individual fitness, should be considered when evaluating the environmental impacts of intense acoustic stimuli on sea turtles. 

Read the full paper

Watch the Video

Thank you to our collaborators at NOAA NEFSC, BOEM, and Acbotics Research.