Passive Acoustic Monitoring in Benthic Marine Crustaceans: A New Research Frontier

Abstract

Passive acoustic monitoring has been used to study the soundscapes of some shallow-water coastal environments. These studies have revealed distinct patterns that depend upon the physical structure of the environment as well as the species living within it. One underrepresented group in marine bioacoustics is the benthic crustaceans, yet these animals are known to produce and detect sounds. Snapping shrimp are the most ubiquitous benthic crustacean, and their “snaps” can substantially elevate sound levels in the range of 2–15 kHz in a variety of habitats in the mid-latitudes. Clawed and spiny lobsters produce tonal vibrations and broadband “rasps,” respectively, but these sounds occur more intermittently than the snapping shrimp choruses. Finally, burrow-dwelling mantis shrimp produce low-frequency rhythmic “rumbles” which tend to occur as dawn and dusk choruses. Passive acoustic monitoring of these taxa can be useful for revealing broad ecological patterns, by using some species (e.g., snapping shrimp) as ecological indicators. Acoustic measurements can reveal temporal patterns in crustacean sounds and detect species’ occupancy of particular habitats. Finally, acoustic monitoring can demonstrate the temporal and frequency overlap between anthropogenic sounds and natural crustacean sounds, which can help refine research questions on potential impacts.