The impacts of anthropogenic sound on marine mammals in the Persian Gulf; current status and need for future research

Abstract Sound generating human activities so-called “anthropogenic sound” have increased ambient sound levels considerably in aquatic habitats that are markedly diverse in time and space. Sound generating human activities is now recognized as a potential driver of environmental changes in marine habitats. Iran has 750 km coastline along the Caspian Sea located in the north and around 2250 km coastline along the Persian Gulf and the Oman Sea located in the south. However, there is a lack of knowledge concerning whether anthropogenic sound may cause detrimental impacts in migratory and/or endemic marine mammals but also other taxa in the Persian Gulf. Therefore, here I argue that it is necessary to assess natural ambient sound levels but also sound generating human activities to characterize soundscapes in the Persian Gulf. Moreover, both laboratory and field studies are needed to explore acoustic background and sound impacts on animals. Such a knowledge appear to be useful to identify and address the potential impacts of anthropogenic sound and the underlying mechanisms of these impacts on biodiversity in the Persian Gulf.