Scientists issue warning about increasingly alarming whale behavior due to human activity

‘Distinct and concerning changes’

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The marine communication that whales depend on could soon be under threat as ocean traffic — and the problematic noise pollution it generates — continues to increase, Dr. Stuart Johnston, a mathematical biologist from the University of Melbourne, wrote in a summary of a new study.

What’s happening?

Johnston’s team recently tested their “mathematical models to investigate how [a] noisy ocean soundscape impacts whale migration,” he wrote in the summary, which was published in the journal Movement Ecology. In these models, researchers homed in on three whale responses to nearby noise pollution: solitude, avoidance, and confusion.

Those reactions are relatable. For instance, say you’re meeting a friend at a concert. With no phone service, your friend promises to shout your name as you arrive in the dark, crowded hall — but when you walk in, it’s so noisy that you can’t hear anything.

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