Sounds from the seismic air guns used in oil exploration disrupt the typical physiological responses in diving narwhals, says new research published Friday in the journal Functional Ecology. The devices allowed the scientists to monitor the animals’ heart and respiration rates as well as their diving and swimming. How does seismic testing work? Seismic testing is used both by scientists to better understand the earth’s crust as well as by companies looking for hydrocarbons. “They’re swimming as hard as they can to get away, and yet their heart rate is not increasing—we think because of a fear response,” Williams said.

Source: CBC News July 12, 2022 20:15 UTC