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Does Masking Matter? Shipping Noise and Fish Vocalizations

  • Conference paper
The Effects of Noise on Aquatic Life II

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 875))

Abstract

Shipping creates large near-field background noises at levels similar to or higher than fish vocalizations and in the same critical bandwidths. This noise has the potential to “mask” biologically important signals and prevent fish from hearing them; any interference with the detection and recognition of sounds may impact fish survival. The Lombard effect, whereby vocalizations are altered to reduce or exclude masking effects, is an adaptation that has been observed in mammals and birds. Research is needed to establish whether the Lombard effect occurs in fish to gain a better understanding of the implications of noise pollution on fish populations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Southampton, University Road, Highfield, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK

    Sarah T. V. Neenan, Paul R. White, Paul Kemp, Timothy G. Leighton & Peter J. Shaw

  2. Fugro EMU Limited, Trafalgar Wharf (Unit 16), Portchester, Portsmouth, PO6 4PX, UK

    Rayner Piper

Authors
  1. Sarah T. V. Neenan
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  2. Rayner Piper
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  3. Paul R. White
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  4. Paul Kemp
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  5. Timothy G. Leighton
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  6. Peter J. Shaw
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Correspondence to Sarah T. V. Neenan .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA

    Arthur N. Popper

  2. Aberdeen, United Kingdom

    Anthony Hawkins

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Neenan, S.T.V., Piper, R., White, P.R., Kemp, P., Leighton, T.G., Shaw, P.J. (2016). Does Masking Matter? Shipping Noise and Fish Vocalizations. In: Popper, A., Hawkins, A. (eds) The Effects of Noise on Aquatic Life II. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 875. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2981-8_91

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