Reactions of Hector's dolphins to acoustic gillnet pingers

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Report on the reactions of Hector's dolphins to acoustic gillnet pingers (PDF, 340 K)

Summary

During 19 days in January 1999, three acoustic gillnet pingers were tested to measure the insitu behavioural and acoustic reactions from 188 Hector's dolphin groups in Akaroa Harbour, New Zealand. We examined group size, behavioural response and vocalisations of these 188 groups in the presence of three different pinger types and one control. Each pinger had different frequency characteristics. The most significant reaction difference among pinger types was in behaviour observed.