Avoidance of wind farms by harbour seals is limited to pile driving activities

Avoidance of wind farms by harbour seals is limited to pile driving activities

As part of global efforts to reduce dependence on carbon-based energy sources there has been a rapid increase in the installation of renewable energy devices. The installation and operation of these devices can result in conflicts with wildlife. In the marine environment, mammals may avoid wind farms that are under construction or operating. Such avoidance may lead to more time spent travelling...

Plastic ingestion by harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) in The Netherlands.

Abundance of ingested debris by seals has been mentioned as a potential indicator of marine litter in the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). A sample of 107 stomachs, 100 intestines and 125 scats of harbour seals from the Netherlands was analysed for the presence of plastics. Incidence of plastic was 11% for stomachs, 1% for intestines, and 0% for scats. Younger animals, up to...

Modeling of vibratory pile driving

Vibratory installation of piles and casings can be extremely economical and therefore the contractors’ preferred method of pile driving. Compared to impact pile driving it also has the advantage of reduced noise pollution. Unfortunately, this installation method is still fraught with uncertainties. The foremost question is driveability and equally important is the question of bearing capacity o...

Earlier pupping in harbour seals, Phoca vitulina.

The annual reproductive cycle of most seal species is characterized by a tight synchrony of births. Typically, timing of birth shows little inter-annual variation. Here, however we show that harbour seals Phoca vitulina from the Wadden Sea (southeast North Sea) have shortened their yearly cycle, moving parturition to earlier dates since the early 1970s. Between 1974 and 2009, the birth date of ...

Analysis of Centrifuge Pile Tests; Simulation of Pile-driving