Varying coefficients correlated velocity models in complex landscapes with boundaries applied to narwhal responses to noise exposure

TL;DR

This study introduces a novel continuous-time correlated velocity model with spatial constraints to analyze narwhal movement in response to noise exposure, revealing increased movement complexity and disturbance over tens of kilometers.

Contribution

The paper presents a new varying coefficients velocity model incorporating spatial boundaries, tailored for complex landscapes and applied to narwhal responses to noise.

Findings

Narwhal trajectories become more tortuous under noise exposure.

Sound disturbance affects narwhal movement up to tens of kilometers.

Exposure increases narwhal velocity and reduces movement persistence.

Abstract

Narwhals in the Arctic are increasingly exposed to human activities that can temporarily or permanently threaten their survival by modifying their behavior. We examine GPS data from a population of narwhals exposed to ship and seismic airgun noise during a controlled experiment in 2018 in the Scoresby Sound fjord system in Southeast Greenland. The fjord system has a complex shore line, restricting the behavioral response options for the narwhals to escape the threats. We propose a new continuous-time correlated velocity model with varying coefficients that includes spatial constraints on movement. To assess the sound exposure effect we compare a baseline model for the movement before exposure to a response model for the movement during exposure. Our model, applied to the narwhal data, suggests increased tortuosity of the trajectories as a consequence of the spatial constraints, and further indicates that sound exposure can disturb narwhal motion up to a couple of tens of kilometers. Specifically, we found an increase in velocity and a decrease in the movement persistence.