title: Documenting and Assessing Dolphin Calls and Ambient and Anthropogenic Noise Levels via PAM and a SPL Meter.
abstract: Song Meter SM2M marine recorders were deployed to document dolphin calls and ambient and anthropogenic noise. Recordings from Bimini were split into 2-h segments; no segment was without dolphin calls. At Dolphin Encounters, average noise levels ranged from 110 to 125 dB; the highest source level was 147.98 dB re 1 μPa at 1 m. Average ambient-noise levels documented at 4 sites in Guam were below 118 dB re 1 μPa at 1 m. These data were compared with values from a custom-built sound pressure level (SPL) meter and confirm that the SM2M recorder is a useful tool for assessing animal calls and ambient and anthropogenic noise levels.
authors.affiliation: Dolphin Communication Project, 711, Old Mystic, CT, 06372-0711, USA. kathleen@dcpmail.org.|Geo-Marine, Inc., Plano, TX, 75074, USA. kathleen@dcpmail.org.
authors.forename: Kathleen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Dudzinski
authors.affiliation: Dolphin Communication Project, 711, Old Mystic, CT, 06372-0711, USA. kelly@dcpmail.org.
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Melillo-Sweeting
authors.affiliation: Dolphin Communication Project, 711, Old Mystic, CT, 06372-0711, USA. justin@dcpmail.org.
authors.forename: Justin D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Gregg
mesh_terms: D000162:Acoustics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D000818:Animals; D001444:Bahamas; D004289:Dolphins / Q000502:physiology*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D009622:Noise; D011312:Pressure; D014828:Vocalization, Animal / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Ambient-noise levels; Autonomous passive acoustic monitoring; Marine mammal monitoring; Vocalizations