Year of Publication
2020

Journal

Environmental Biology of Fishes
Volume
103
Issue
9
Date Published
Jan-09-2020
Number of Pages
1079 - 1090
DOI
10.1007/s10641-020-01005-3
URL
http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10641-020-01005-3
ISSN Number
0378-1909
HCERES category
ACL - Articles in international or national peer-reviewed journals indexed by HCERES or in international databases
Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore an emerging discipline addressing the impact of anthropogenic noise on larval stages of marine organisms. We assessed the influence of boat noise on the feeding behaviour of the pelagic larvae of winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus, Walbaum, 1792). The hypothesis was that boat noise influences the feeding behaviour of P. americanus flounder larvae independently of prey  density. Aquaria containing P. americanus larvae were placed in water baths in which boat noise was diffused for the “noise” treatment and compared to control aquaria with no sound emissions. Larvae were filmed  using cameras placed above the aquaria and their behaviour was recorded. Larvae exposed to anthropogenic noise displayed significantly fewer hunting events than controls, and their stomach volumes were  significantly smaller. This noise effect was the same at all prey densities used, suggesting that larval feeding behaviour is negatively impaired by anthropogenic noise.