Acoustic Assault: How Anthropogenic Noise Pollution Affects Marine Ecosystems
Date
2019
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Department of English and Writing, The University of Tampa
Abstract
Marine environments are essentially underwater cities; not only
are they bursting with shrieks and shrills from animals, but humans have
injected their own noises into the environment such as naval sonar, shipping
traffic/boat noise, and blasts from oil exploration. Unlike humans, aquatic life
relies on their auditory systems to navigate, communicate, forage, and reproduce.
Due to the overlap of cetaceans’ hearing capacity and the operating frequencies
of the aforementioned sources of anthropogenic noise, marine life is
subjected to a multitude of life-altering effects, ranging from hearing loss and
changes in behavior to internal bleeding of organs and mass strandings. Cetaceans
are biological indicators of the oceans’ health and their longevity allows
society to monitor the effects of other human activites and the changing
conditions of the sea; without them, the balance within the ecosystem would
cease to exist. An increase in awareness, education, and political involvement
regarding marine disturbances could persuade legislators to hold these
companies accountable and spark a movement towards quieter ocean-going
technology, allowing oceans and the life within them to recover.
Description
Recommended Citation: Stange, Emma. “Acoustic Assault: How Anthropogenic Noise Pollution Affects Marine Ecosystems.” Royal Road, 2019. https://doi.org/10.48497/0ZCW-SJ85.
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Keywords
Ecosystems, Cetaceans, Marine pollution, Noise pollution
Citation
Stange, Emma. “Acoustic Assault: How Anthropogenic Noise Pollution Affects Marine Ecosystems.” Royal Road, 2019. https://doi.org/10.48497/0ZCW-SJ85.