Seismic bangs 'block' whale calls

Scientists have turned up new evidence showing that ocean noise can affect the communication of whales. Studying blue whales off the eastern Canadian coast, they found the animals changed their vocalisations in response to an underwater seismic survey. The survey was conducted using gear considered to have a low impact. Writing in the journal Biology Letters, the researchers say this is the first evidence that whales will increase calls in response to underwater noise.