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Title: Acoustic monitoring reveals the times and tides of harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) distribution off central Oregon, U.S.A.: HARBOR PORPOISE DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT USE

Journal Article · · Marine Mammal Science
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12537· OSTI ID:1479527
ORCiD logo [1];  [2];  [3]; ORCiD logo [4]
  1. Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Hatfield Marine Science Center, 2030, SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, Oregon, 97365 U.S.A., Cooperative Institute for Marine Resources Studies, Oregon State University and NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, Hatfield Marine Science Center, 2030, SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, Oregon, 97365 U.S.A.
  2. Cooperative Institute for Marine Resources Studies, Oregon State University and NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, Hatfield Marine Science Center, 2030, SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, Oregon, 97365 U.S.A.
  3. Bioacoustics Research Program, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, 159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, New York, 14850 U.S.A.
  4. Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Hatfield Marine Science Center, 2030, SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, Oregon, 97365 U.S.A.

Harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) are commonly observed in Oregon's nearshore marine environment yet knowledge of their ecosystem use and behavior remains limited, generating concerns for potential impacts on this species from future coastal development. Passive acoustic monitoring was used to investigate spatial and temporal variations in the presence and foraging activity of harbor porpoises off the Oregon coast from May through October 2014. Digital monitoring devices (DMONs) were deployed to record acoustic data (320 kHz sample rate) in two neighboring but bathymetrically different locations off the Oregon coast: (1) a site on the 30 m isobath in close proximity (<50 m) to a rocky reef, and (2) a site on the 60 m isobath in an open sandy environment. Data were analyzed with respect to two dynamic cyclic variables: diel and tidal phase. Porpoise presence at the rocky reef site was aligned with the ebb phase of the tidal forcing, while, harbor porpoise presence and foraging at the offshore, sandy bottom site was associated with night-time foraging. The spatial and temporal patterns identified in this study suggest harbor porpoise habitat use is modulated by specific environmental conditions particular to each site that maximize foraging efficiency.

Research Organization:
Oregon State Univ., Corvallis, OR (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
Grant/Contract Number:
FG36-08GO18179-M001; FG36-08GO18179
OSTI ID:
1479527
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1479531; OSTI ID: 1613547
Journal Information:
Marine Mammal Science, Journal Name: Marine Mammal Science Vol. 35 Journal Issue: 1; ISSN 0824-0469
Publisher:
Wiley-BlackwellCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 5 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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