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Temporal patterns in the soundscape of the shallow waters of a Mediterranean marine protected area.

TitleTemporal patterns in the soundscape of the shallow waters of a Mediterranean marine protected area.
Publication TypeArticolo su Rivista peer-reviewed
Year of Publication2016
AuthorsBuscaino, Giuseppa, Ceraulo Maria, Pieretti Nadia, Corrias Valentina, Farina Almo, Filiciotto Francesco, Maccarrone Vincenzo, Grammauta Rosario, Caruso Francesco, Alonge G., and Mazzola Salvatore
JournalSci Rep
Volume6
Issue1
Pagination34230
Date Published2016 Sep 28
ISSN2045-2322
Abstract

The study of marine soundscapes is an emerging field of research that contributes important information about biological compositions and environmental conditions. The seasonal and circadian soundscape trends of a marine protected area (MPA) in the Mediterranean Sea have been studied for one year using an autonomous acoustic recorder. Frequencies less than 1 kHz are dominated by noise generated by waves and are louder during the winter; conversely, higher frequencies (4-96 kHz) are dominated by snapping shrimp, which increase their acoustic activity at night during the summer. Fish choruses, below 2 kHz, characterize the soundscape at sunset during the summer. Because there are 13 vessel passages per hour on average, causing acoustic interference with fish choruses 46% of the time, this MPA cannot be considered to be protected from noise. On the basis of the high seasonal variability of the soundscape components, this study proposes a one-year acoustic monitoring protocol using the soundscape methodology approach and discusses the concept of MPA size.

URLhttp://www.nature.com/articles/srep34230
DOI10.1038/srep34230
Short TitleSci Rep
Alternate JournalSci Rep
Citation Key4405
PubMed ID27677956
PubMed Central IDPMC5039702