Behavioural and biochemical stress responses of Palinurus elephas after exposure to boat noise pollution in tank
This study examined the effects of boat noise on the behavioural and biochemical parameters of the Mediterranean spiny lobster (Palinurus elephas).The experiment was conducted in a tank equipped with a video and audio recording system. 18 experimental trials, assigned to boat noise and control conditions, were performed using lobsters in single and group of 4 specimens. After a 1. h habituation period, we audio- and video-recorded the lobsters for 1. h. During the experimental phase, the animals assigned to the boat groups were exposed to boat noise pollution (a random sequence of boat noises). Exposure to the noise produced significant variations in locomotor behaviours and haemolymphatic …
Vessel noise pollution as a human threat to fish: assessment of the stress response in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata, Linnaeus 1758)
This study examined the effects of boat noise pollution on the stress indices of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata, Linnaeus 1758). To assess the stress response in these fish, biometric values and plasma parameters such as ACTH, cortisol, glucose, lactate, haematocrit, Hsp70, total protein, cholesterol, triglycerides and osmolarity were analysed. After acclimatization of the animals, the experiment was carried out in a tank fitted with underwater speakers where the fish were exposed to sound treatments (in duplicate) consisting of: 10 days of no sound (control treatment; the animals were only exposed to the experimental tank’s background noise) and 10 days of noise derived from original re…
Are mussels able to distinguish underwater sounds? Assessment of the reactions of Mytilus galloprovincialis after exposure to lab-generated acoustic signals
This study examined the effects of lab-generated acoustic signals on the behaviour and biochemistry of Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis). The experiment was carried out in a tank equipped with a video-recording system using six groups of five mussels exposed to five acoustic treatments (each treatment was replicated three times) for 30 min. The acoustic signals, with a maximum sound pressure level of 150 dB rms re 1 μPa, differed in frequency range as follows: low (0.1–5 kHz), mid-low (5–10 kHz), mid (10–20 kHz), mid-high (20–40 kHz) and high (40–60 kHz). The exposure to sweeps did not produce any significant changes in the mussels' behaviour. Conversely, the specimens expos…
Shipping noise affecting immune responses of European spiny lobster (Palinuruselephas)
Marine crustaceans are influenced by numerous environmental factors. Environmental stress from pollutants seems to affect their metabolism, growth, moulting, survival, and immune defence. Recently, it has become clear that there is an impact of the global increase in sea noise levels due to shipping traffic on crustacean welfare. Considering the ecological and commercial importance of the European spiny lobster (Palinurus elephas (Fabricius, 1787)) in most parts of the Mediterranean coastal area, in the present study we investigated whether shipping noise pollution contribute to changing the immune parameters of stress in the European spiny lobster. The animals were exposed to a mix of nois…
Physiological and agonistic behavioural response of Procambarus clarkii to an acoustic stimulus
Summary This study examined the effects of an acoustic stimulus on the haemolymph and agonistic behaviour of the red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii. The experiment was conducted in a tank equipped with a video recording system using 6 groups (3 control and 3 test groups) of five adult crayfish (30 specimens in total). After one hour of habituation, the behaviour of the crayfish was monitored for two hours. During the second hour, the animals in the test groups were exposed to a linear sweep (frequency range 0.1-25 kHz; peak amplitude 148 dBrms re 1 µPa at 12 kHz) acoustic stimulus for 30 minutes. Exposure to the noise produced significant variations in haemato-immunological parameters a…
Underwater noise from boats: Measurement of its influence on the behaviour and biochemistry of the common prawn (Palaemon serratus, Pennant 1777)
Abstract This study examined the effects of recorded boat noises on the behaviour and biochemistry of the common prawn ( Palaemon serratus ) in laboratory settings. The experiment was carried out in a tank equipped with a video-recording system using six groups (three control and three tested) of eight common prawns (48 animals in total). After habituation for 1 h, the behaviour of the prawns was monitored for 1 h. During the last 30 min, the animals in the test groups were exposed to noise resembling a marine area with high anthropogenic acoustic pollution. The exposure to noise produced significant changes in locomotor patterns, presence inside or outside a shelter, total protein concentr…