Dear Colleagues I would kindly draw your attention to a review article that just came out in a Springer book on Animal Communication and Noise (see http://www.springer.com/life+sciences/behavioural/book/978-3-642-41493-0). Its broadly dealing with noise impacts but there is a lot of focus on marine mammals and thus, I believe, relevant to this forum. I also think it's the first time that the issue has been addressed by a team of scientists from different disciplines (bird / behavior / mammals). Reprints are available on request (frth@dhigroup.com<mailto:frth@dhigroup.com>). Anthropogenic Noise and Conservation Peter K. McGregor, Andrew G. Horn, Marty L. Leonard and Frank Thomsen Abstract Anthropogenic noise is a common but evolutionarily recent influence on communicating animals and evidence is accumulating of its adverse impacts on human health, therefore it has potential relevance to conservation. However, demonstrating that this potential is realised is not straightforward. A particular issue is the difficulty of assessing likely impacts from the limited evidence on the main factors influencing impacts-from the hearing abilities of animals of conservation concern through to the characteristics of emitted sound fields in natural environments. Further issues include the likely underestimation of behavioural effects, and a lack of knowledge of how animals trade off costs and benefits. In this chapter, we aim to highlight the main themes emerging from the growing interest in the effects of anthropogenic noise on conservation. We predominantly consider the marine environment (with examples drawn mainly from marine mammals) and the terrestrial environment (with bird examples). An important consideration that emerges from the increasing levels of anthropogenic noise and difficulties in assessing specific impacts is the need to develop interim guidance, while more detailed information is gathered and assessed. Best regards, Frank Thomsen Ph.D. Senior Marine Scientist CSci CMarSci FIMarEST DK-EED [DHI logo] DHI Agern Allé 5 DK-2970 Hørsholm Denmark Tel: +45 4516 9200 Direct: +45 4516 9446 Mobile: +45 29404355 frth@dhigroup.com<mailto:frth@dhigroup.com> www.dhigroup.com<http://www.dhigroup.com> The expert in WATER ENVIRONMENTS This message contains information which may be confidential and privileged. Unless you are the intended recipient (or authorised to receive this message for the intended recipient), you may not use, copy, disseminate or disclose any information contained in it thereof. If you have received this communication in error, please advise the sender appropriately by reply e-mail, and then delete it. Thank you very much.
