Rapid changes in the Arctic from shifting climate and human use patterns are affecting previously reported distributions and movements of marine mammals. The underwater soundscape, a key component of marine mammal habitats, is also changing. This study integrates acoustic data, collected at a site in the northern Bering Sea, with information on sound sources to quantify their occurrence throughout the year and identify deviations in conditions and dominant soundscape components. Predictive models are applied to explain variation in sound levels and to compare the relative contributions of various soundscape components. Levels across all octave bands were influenced most strongly by the variation in abiotic environment across seasons. The presence of commercial ships did not have a discernible effect on sound levels at this location and period of time. The occurrence of sources was compared to a second site, where we documented how higher levels of shipping changed that soundscape. This study demonstrated the value of acoustic monitoring to characterize the dominant acoustic features in a soundscape and the importance of preserving soundscapes based on dominant features rather than level of sound. Using a soundscape approach has relevance for protecting marine mammals and for the food security of Alaska Native communities that depend upon them.

中文翻译：

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白令海峡地区的综合水下声景分析

由于气候变化和人类使用模式的变化，北极地区的快速变化正在影响先前报告的海洋哺乳动物的分布和运动。作为海洋哺乳动物栖息地的关键组成部分的水下声景也在发生变化。这项研究将在白令海北部一个地点收集的声学数据与声源信息相结合，以量化它们全年的发生情况，并确定条件和主要声景成分的偏差。应用预测模型来解释声级的变化并比较各种声景组件的相对贡献。所有八度频带的水平受非生物环境跨季节变化的影响最大。商船的存在对这个位置和时间段的声级没有明显的影响。源的出现与第二个站点进行了比较，在那里我们记录了更高级别的运输如何改变该音景。这项研究证明了声学监测在表征音景中的主要声学特征方面的价值，以及基于主要特征而不是声级来保存音景的重要性。使用音景方法与保护海洋哺乳动物和依赖它们的阿拉斯加原住民社区的粮食安全有关。这项研究证明了声学监测在表征音景中的主要声学特征方面的价值，以及基于主要特征而不是声级来保存音景的重要性。使用音景方法与保护海洋哺乳动物和依赖它们的阿拉斯加原住民社区的粮食安全有关。这项研究证明了声学监测在表征音景中的主要声学特征方面的价值，以及基于主要特征而不是声级来保存音景的重要性。使用音景方法与保护海洋哺乳动物和依赖它们的阿拉斯加原住民社区的粮食安全有关。