What does this research mean for the field?

Harbour seals exhibit unusual movement behaviors, such as high speeds or sudden cessation of movement, in response to pile driving sounds at an estimated mean population-level threshold of 186 dB re 1 μPa2·s. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.NOVEL_FINDING. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To identify individual behavioural reactions and determine population-level response thresholds of harbor seals exposed to underwater pile driving sound during offshore wind farm construction.

September 2, 2026Animal ConservationOpen Access

Movement Responses of Seals During Pile Driving for Offshore Wind Farm Construction

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Authors

KWKatherine F. Whyte GHGordon D. Hastie CSCarol Sparling

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Overview

Observational telemetry study reveals distinct behavioural disruptions and sound thresholds in harbor seals during pile driving, highlighting clear dose-response patterns for impact assessments.

Key Points

To identify individual behavioural reactions and determine population-level response thresholds of harbor seals exposed to underwater pile driving sound during offshore wind farm construction.
Tracked 24 harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) using GPS telemetry at an abundance center and Special Area of Conservation in England during wind farm construction.
Applied Mahalanobis distance analysis to movement metrics to detect instances of unusual swimming and correlated them with modeled received sound levels across 216 seal-noise encounters.
Detected 15 unusual movement instances during 216 piling noise encounters, characterized by bursts of high speed, cessation of horizontal movement, or sudden movement initiation.
Estimated the mean population-level behavioural response threshold to be 186 dB re 1 μPa²·s (95% CI: 169–199 dB re 1 μPa²·s).

Cite This Study

Whyte et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a97e2eac562ede874ec750a https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.70102

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September 2, 2026Animal ConservationOpen Access

Movement Responses of Seals During Pile Driving for Offshore Wind Farm Construction

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

KWKatherine F. Whyte GHGordon D. Hastie CSCarol Sparling

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Observational telemetry study reveals distinct behavioural disruptions and sound thresholds in harbor seals during pile driving, highlighting clear dose-response patterns for impact assessments.

Key Points

To identify individual behavioural reactions and determine population-level response thresholds of harbor seals exposed to underwater pile driving sound during offshore wind farm construction.
Tracked 24 harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) using GPS telemetry at an abundance center and Special Area of Conservation in England during wind farm construction.
Applied Mahalanobis distance analysis to movement metrics to detect instances of unusual swimming and correlated them with modeled received sound levels across 216 seal-noise encounters.
Detected 15 unusual movement instances during 216 piling noise encounters, characterized by bursts of high speed, cessation of horizontal movement, or sudden movement initiation.
Estimated the mean population-level behavioural response threshold to be 186 dB re 1 μPa²·s (95% CI: 169–199 dB re 1 μPa²·s).

Cite This Study

Whyte et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a97e2eac562ede874ec750a https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.70102

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