Mapping the acoustic soundscape off vancouver island using the NEPTUNE Canada ocean observatory

Abstract

NEPTUNE Canada is a cabled ocean observatory system containing five nodes located in the northeast Pacific Ocean. Using passive acoustic data recorded at two nodes (Folger Passage Deep and Barkley Canyon Axis) between June 2010 and May 2011, we sought to quantify the levels of vessel traffic and the occurrence of biological sounds to determine the potential impact of anthropogenic sound in masking acoustic communication. The results from a comparison of the relative amplitude and occurrence of low-frequency biotic sounds to broadband sounds resulting from vessel traffic are presented. Additional contributions to the marine soundscape from self-generated instrument noise are discussed.