DECRYPTION – If transport remains the main source of nuisance, animals are also very penalized by work at sea which can have irreversible consequences.
The world of silence told by Commander Cousteau does not exist. The oceans are a noisy world, and hearing is often the only sense that allows you to find your bearings as soon as you go down deep and the sun’s rays can no longer penetrate. For marine animals, and in particular large mammals, noise is therefore a stress which is added to that caused by climate change, while sound contact is essential for them to socialize or even to select their partner. “Noise pollution also has a great impact on reproduction, explains Hervé Glotin, researcher in marine bioacoustics at the University of Toulon. But also on the survival of the youngest. Indeed, it is through acoustics that mothers stay in contact with their young. In an environment that is too noisy, the risk of stranding the youngest becomes greater.
“Hearing is also essential for huntingadds the scientist. In the absence of light…
This article is for subscribers only. You have 85% left to discover.
Pushing back the limits of science is also freedom.
Keep reading your article for €0.99 for the first month
Already subscribed? Login