Electric and magnetic senses in marine animals, and potential behavioral effects of electromagnetic surveys

2020 · Unclear · Insufficient evidence

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UnclearInsufficient evidencePaper 1590

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2020

Study typereview

Reported directionUnclear

Evidence ratingInsufficient

Abstract

Electric and magnetic senses in marine animals, and potential behavioral effects of electromagnetic surveys Nyqvist D, Durif C, Johnsen MG, De Jong K, Forland TN, Sivle LD. Electric and magnetic senses in marine animals, and potential behavioral effects of electromagnetic surveys. Mar Environ Res. 2020 Mar;155:104888. doi: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2020.104888. Abstract Electromagnetic surveys generate electromagnetic fields to map petroleum deposits under the seabed with unknown consequences for marine animals. The electric and magnetic fields induced by electromagnetic surveys can be detected by many marine animals, and the generated fields may potentially affect the behavior of perceptive animals. Animals using magnetic cues for migration or local orientation, especially during a restricted time-window, risk being affected by electromagnetic surveys. In electrosensitive animals, anthropogenic electric fields could disrupt a range of behaviors. The lack of studies on effects of the electromagnetic fields induced by electromagnetic surveys on the behavior of magneto- and electrosensitive animals is a reason for concern. Here, we review the use of electric and magnetic fields among marine animals, present data on survey generated and natural electromagnetic fields, and discuss potential effects of electromagnetic surveys on the behavior of marine animals. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typereview

Effect directionunclear

Populationmarine animals (magneto- and electrosensitive species)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureNot supplied

Evidence strengthInsufficientConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

The review states that electric and magnetic fields induced by electromagnetic surveys can be detected by many marine animals and may potentially affect behavior, particularly for animals using magnetic cues for migration/orientation and for electrosensitive animals. It emphasizes a lack of studies directly assessing behavioral effects of survey-induced fields and notes this as a reason for concern.

Outcomes measured

behavioral effects
migration/orientation cues
disruption of behaviors in electrosensitive animals

Limitations

Review/discussion of potential effects rather than reporting specific controlled effect estimates in the abstract
Abstract highlights a lack of studies on behavioral effects of electromagnetic survey-induced fields

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "review",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "electromagnetic surveys (seabed petroleum mapping)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "marine animals (magneto- and electrosensitive species)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "behavioral effects",
    "migration/orientation cues",
    "disruption of behaviors in electrosensitive animals"
  ],
  "main_findings": "The review states that electric and magnetic fields induced by electromagnetic surveys can be detected by many marine animals and may potentially affect behavior, particularly for animals using magnetic cues for migration/orientation and for electrosensitive animals. It emphasizes a lack of studies directly assessing behavioral effects of survey-induced fields and notes this as a reason for concern.",
  "effect_direction": "unclear",
  "limitations": [
    "Review/discussion of potential effects rather than reporting specific controlled effect estimates in the abstract",
    "Abstract highlights a lack of studies on behavioral effects of electromagnetic survey-induced fields"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "electromagnetic surveys",
    "marine animals",
    "electric sense",
    "magnetic sense",
    "behavior",
    "migration",
    "orientation",
    "anthropogenic electric fields"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.2,
      "reason": "Mentions electromagnetic surveys as an anthropogenic EMF source; not clearly occupational but relates to industrial survey activity in marine environments."
    }
  ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2020.104888
PubMed: Not supplied

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