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Overt Responses of Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), Sperm Whales (Physeter macrocephalus), and Atlantic Spotted Dolphins (Stenella frontalis) to Seismic Exploration off Angola
- Article from:
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Aquatic Mammals
- Article date:
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January 1, 2008
- Author:
- Weir, Caroline R
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Copyright informationCopyright Aquatic Mammals 2008. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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Abstract
A total of 2,769 h of marine mammal observation was conducted from a seismic survey vessel off Angola between August 2004 and May 2005. A dual-source airgun array firing a total volume of either 5,085 in^sup 3^ (Survey 1) or 3,147 in^sup 3^ (Survey 2) in an alternate source activation sequence was active during 51% of the analysed effort. A total of 207 sightings of humpback whales (n = 66), sperm whales (n = 124), and Atlantic spotted dolphins (n = 17) was recorded. The encounter rate (sightings/h) of humpback and sperm whales did not differ significantly according to airgun operational status. The mean distance to humpback and sperm whale sightings was greater during full-array ...