Noise pollution in the ocean Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Noise pollution in the ocean - Research Paper Example Some of the marine life has been adversely affected by the increase in noise pollution in the oceans and their survival has been compromised. Most of the marine life species have evolved over the years to possess very acute hearing abilities which are affected by an increase in the noise under water. Naturally, most of the species in the oceans majorly depend on sound to detect danger and also to hunt for their food. Noise pollution masks the important sounds to the marine life and it also causes stress to the animals. This paper focuses on noise pollution in the ocean and addresses the three main animals that are affected and how humans contribute to the noise pollution in the ocean. The three main animals affected by noise pollution Cephalopods Giant squids are some of the ocean animals that are affected by noise pollution. The squids are injured by the noise and it could even lead to death if they are subjected to certain frequencies of sound for a long time. According to research ers who are set out to find out whether squids can hear, the results of their study showed that the sea animals can hear. Unlike humans, their hearing capability is limited to around 500 Hz. This means that the animals cannot perceive the high frequency sounds from animals like dolphin screeches. Recent study has revealed that Giant squids are affected by sound in the least expected way, which affects their balance. In the research experiment, the squids were placed in tanks and were then exposed to two straight hours sound at low frequency. The findings revealed that the animals suffered great damage to their statocyst tissue which is responsible for balance while navigating in the water. The exposure is traumatizing and the lesions in their statocysts get worse (Coghlan 15). There are many types of squids and they have many relatives in the Cephalopods groups of marine species. The Octopus is also in the group and it is also vulnerable to noise pollution. Octopuses have also been affected in a similar way as the Squids by the low frequency noise in the ocean (Heimbuch Para 8). Squids live in various parts of the sea, some may be found in the deep sea while others may be found at more shallow depths. Noise from the activities on the surface of the sea or in the deep sea during fishing done by humans is transferred very fast across the water and it can reach the animals at all depths. Cephalopods are therefore very vulnerable to trauma and damage from noise pollution that is on the increase in the ocean. Cephalopods like the Humboldt Squid have been one of the most adversely affected marine species by noise pollution in the ocean over the past decade. In 2004, thousands of the squids died and were washed to the coast in Oregon. In 2008, a similar case occurred in the same region (Mulvaney Para 1). At that time, the marine biologists had no idea what was causing the mysterious deaths on such a large number of squids. Biologists undertook a study on four species of squids to determine the damage caused by low frequency noise on the animals. After a short time of exposure to the noise, the biologists observed that the hair in the statocysts of the animals had experienced damages. The nerves in the statocysts later swelled and soon after, holes would form in the statocysts. The findings were very shocking since the sound used was very low in frequency and the biologists were worried that exposure to higher frequencies of noise to the squid would have worse effects on them. Whales