Last call: Passive acoustic monitoring shows continued rapid decline of critically endangered vaquita

J Acoust Soc Am. 2017 Nov;142(5):EL512. doi: 10.1121/1.5011673.

Abstract

The vaquita is a critically endangered species of porpoise. It produces echolocation clicks, making it a good candidate for passive acoustic monitoring. A systematic grid of sensors has been deployed for 3 months annually since 2011; results from 2016 are reported here. Statistical models (to compensate for non-uniform data loss) show an overall decline in the acoustic detection rate between 2015 and 2016 of 49% (95% credible interval 82% decline to 8% increase), and total decline between 2011 and 2016 of over 90%. Assuming the acoustic detection rate is proportional to population size, approximately 30 vaquita (95% credible interval 8-96) remained in November 2016.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acoustics* / instrumentation
  • Animals
  • Echolocation* / classification
  • Endangered Species*
  • Environmental Monitoring / instrumentation
  • Environmental Monitoring / methods*
  • Population Density
  • Porpoises / classification
  • Porpoises / psychology*
  • Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Time Factors
  • Transducers
  • Vocalization, Animal* / classification