Acoustic Characteristics of Finless Porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis) and Their Relationships with Environmental Variables Revealed by Passive Acoustic Monitoring in Korean Coastal Aquaculture Waters

초록

The finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis) is a species frequently observed in Korean coastal waters that remains highly vulnerable to bycatch and habitat disturbance. To develop effective conservation strategies, it is essential to understand their acoustic behavior and environmental preferences. This study utilized Passive Acoustic Monitoring to investigate the acoustic characteristics and activity patterns of finless porpoises in coastal waters near cage aquaculture farms from September to October 2021. A total of 372,707 clicks and 175,119 click trains were identified. Mean acoustic parameters were peak frequency 122.0 ± 11.1 kHz, 3 dB bandwidth 15.4 ± 12.0 kHz, 10 dB bandwidth 45.3 ± 16.1 kHz, and ICI 39.0 ± 34.8 ms. Click activity exhibited a distinct diel pattern, with significantly higher activity during the early morning and nighttime. Generalized Additive Model analysis revealed significant non-linear relationships between click activity and tide, temperature, salinity, and hour. Specifically, click activity decreased with rising temperatures and lower salinity, while the effect of tide was relatively limited. These findings provide critical baseline data for the development of acoustic deterrent devices tailored to Korean marine environments and contribute to the management of bycatch mitigation and coastal ecosystem conservation. © 2026 by the authors.

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