First observations of anthropogenic underwater noise in a large multi-use lake

Submitted: 11 December 2015
Accepted: 29 April 2016
Published: 14 June 2016
Abstract Views: 2643
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Over the last fifty years, anthropogenic noise has increased dramatically in aquatic environments and is now recognised as a chronic form of pollution in coastal waters. However, this form of pollution has been largely neglected in inland water bodies. To date, very few studies have investigated the noise spectra in freshwater environments and at present no legislation exists to protect freshwater organisms from anthropogenic noise. The present study represents the first assessment of anthropogenic noise pollution in a large multi-use lake by characterising noise levels of the main ferry landings of the lake of Windermere, UK using Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM). During November 2014, acoustic samples (10 min long) were collected from such areas using a calibrated omni-directional hydrophone and their spectral content was analysed in 1/3 octave bands (dB re 1 µPa). Results indicate that the current noise levels in Windermere warrant further investigation as a potential threat to the fish community which occurs in this already delicate and pressured habitat. Based on results obtained, it is recommended that further studies focus on a wider geographical and temporal range in order to start to fill the knowledge and legislative gaps regarding anthropogenic noise monitoring in fresh waters. 

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Supporting Agencies

Irish Research Council, Marine Institute (Ireland)
Marta Bolgan, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology
Marine and Freshwater Research Centre, Department of Natural Sciences
Emilia Chorazyczewska, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology
Marine and Freshwater Research Centre, Department of Natural Sciences
Joanne O'Brien, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology
Marine and Freshwater Research Centre, Department of Natural Sciences
Martin Gammell, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology
Marine and Freshwater Research Centre, Department of Natural Sciences

How to Cite

Bolgan, Marta, Emilia Chorazyczewska, Ian J. Winfield, Antonio Codarin, Joanne O’Brien, and Martin Gammell. 2016. “First Observations of Anthropogenic Underwater Noise in a Large Multi-Use Lake”. Journal of Limnology 75 (3). https://doi.org/10.4081/jlimnol.2016.1405.