title: Challenge of Using Passive Acoustic Monitoring in High-Energy Environments: UK Tidal Environments and Other Case Studies.
abstract: The use of passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) around marine developments is commonplace. A buffer-based PAM system (e.g., C-POD) is a cost-effective method for assessing cetacean acoustic presence. Devices have been deployed by Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) Marine around the United Kingdom, allowing an examination of the performance of C-PODs with respect to background noise, tilt angle, and environmental factors. C-PODs were found to often only monitor for a few seconds of each minute, resulting in significant loss of monitoring time. Issues were likely driven by environmental and deployment factors. The practical limitations of buffer-based PAM systems in high-energy/noisy environments are indicated here.
authors.affiliation: Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) Marine Ltd., New Technology Centre, North Haugh, St. Andrews, Fife, KY16 9SR, UK. cgb@smru.co.uk.
authors.forename: Cormac G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Booth
mesh_terms: D000162:Acoustics; D000818:Animals; D002591:Cetacea / Q000502:physiology; D004777:Environment; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D009622:Noise; D006113:United Kingdom; D014872:Water Movements
keywords: Impact monitoring; Limitations; Marine mammals; Noisy environments; Passive acoustic monitoring