Dear colleagues, I am happy to share our new open access publication on behalf of lead author Katie Gallagher and coauthors entitled "Passive acoustic monitoring of baleen whales using autonomous gliders in relation to offshore wind energy areas in the New York Bight"
Gallagher KL, Baumgartner M, Miles T, Kohut J, Flagg C, McSweeney J, Warren J, Thorne LH. 2025. Passive acoustic monitoring of baleen whales in relation to offshore wind development using autonomous gliders. Endangered Species Research 58:257–273 https://doi.org/10.3354/esr01452 Abstract: The rapid expansion of offshore wind development in the northeast USA has amplified the need to understand baseline patterns of habitat use for protected species relative to offshore wind lease areas. Here, we used 5 years of intermittent passive acoustic monitoring via autonomous glider deployments to monitor baleen whales in the New York Bight, a region of the US east coast where offshore wind construction is imminent. We assessed the daily presence of humpback *Megaptera novaeangliae*, sei *Balaenoptera borealis*, North Atlantic right *Eubalaena glacialis*, and fin *B. physalus* whale vocalizations, and examined spatial (10s-100s of km) and temporal (seasonal) habitat use patterns in the wind energy areas and the broader New York Bight region. All species were observed year-round in the New York Bight, with humpback and sei whales detected most frequently in spring, and right whales detected more frequently in winter. Humpback and North Atlantic right whales were detected closer to the coast in winter than in other seasons. The overlap between whale habitat and wind energy areas was greatest in winter for all species except for sei whales, which showed similar overlap in summer and winter. This new understanding of the overlap of baleen whale habitat use relative to offshore wind energy areas illustrates the utility of routine seasonal glider surveys as passive acoustic monitoring platforms. Furthermore, this information will be helpful for developing appropriate mitigation and management strategies to minimize impacts of wind energy development on baleen whales. Best, Lesley ...................................................... *Lesley Thorne* *Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Research* *School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences* *Stony Brook University* Office: 631.632.5117 www.thornelab.com <http://www.thornelab.com> [image: Stony Brook University logo] <http://www.stonybrook.edu/>
_______________________________________________ MARMAM mailing list [email protected] https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
