The Effects of Seismic Surveys on Marine Zooplankton

Main research findings

Anthropogenic underwater noise, such as boat noise, pile driving, or seismic surveys, is an increasing source of ocean pollution and poses a potential threat to marine life. Seismic surveys may negatively impact marine mammals and fish. However, little is known about the effects of zooplankton. Zooplankton are essential to marine ecosystems, transferring energy from lower to higher trophic levels and playing an important part in the carbon cycle. This work investigates the impact of seismic surveys on zooplankton, combining laboratory and field work and examining different species, developmental stages, and effects. The thesis shows that seismic airguns have a limited impact on zooplankton, with variations influenced by species, exposure conditions, and study design. While certain zooplankton taxa may experience increased mortality rates and behavioral changes, others display minimal effects. Additionally, the thesis underscores the harmful impact of rapid pressure drops associated with airgun exposure on zooplankton, underscoring the variability in how different taxa respond to various stressors. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of considering broader environmental contexts and recognizing the potential impact on other organisms when assessing the effects of anthropogenic underwater noise on marine ecosystems.

Disputation – Time and place: 8 May 2024 at 1:15 PM, Nucleus, Bikuben, Kristine Bonnevies hus

Trial lecture: Copepod role in the North Sea food webs – Time and place: 8 May 2024 at 10:15 AM, Nucleus, Bikuben, Kristine Bonnevies hus

Adjudication committee

• Senior Lecturer Erik Selander, Department of Biology, Lund University
• Prof. Ana Širović, Department of Biology, NTNU, Trondheim
• Assoc. Prof. Adriana Lopes Dos Santos, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo

Chair of defense

• Assoc. Prof. Øystein Langangen, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo

Supervisors

• Research Scientist Karen de Jong, Institute of Marine Research, Bergen 
• Prof. Josefin Titelman, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo
• Researcher Anne Christine Utne Palm, Institute of Marine Research, Bergen 
• Mette Dalgaard Agersted, WSP Danmark

Personal data

In 2020, Emilie Hernes Vereide completed a master's degree in marine biology at the University of Oslo. From autumn 2020 to 2024 she has worked as a PhD candidate at the Institute of Marine Research (IMR) in the research group Ecosystem Acoustics. The work was carried out in connection with the project "ZoopSeis", funded by the Research Council of Norway (NFR: 302675) and led by Karen de Jong. Emilie has worked under the guidance of Dr. Karen de Jong (main supervisor), Prof. Josefin Titelman (UiO), Dr. Anne Christine Utne Palm and Dr. Mette Dalgaard Agersted.