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.
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Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank the Fonds de Recherche du Québec - Nature et Technologies (FRQNT) for funding this project, Ressources Aquatiques Québec for their financial contribution, the Programme Canadien de la Bourse de la Francophonie (PCBF) for the scholarship to Ms. Gendron, and Renée Gagné for logistical support during larval rearing and experiment setup. All experiments were conducted at the Station aquicole de Pointe-au-Père (ISMER/UQAR, 48°27′N;68°32′W, QC, Canada), and all breeders and larval manipulations were done according to the Canadian Council of Animal Protection recommendations and protocols approved by the University’s Animal Care Committee.
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Gendron, G., Tremblay, R., Jolivet, A. et al. Anthropogenic boat noise reduces feeding success in winter flounder larvae (Pseudopleuronectes americanus). Environ Biol Fish 103, 1079–1090 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-020-01005-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-020-01005-3