Assessing the Impacts of Aquaculture Soundscapes on the Growth, Physiology and Behavior of Micropterus salmoides

Abstract

Sound has a potential impact on animal welfare and production, but the impacts of soundscapes on aquaculture species in different aquaculture production systems have been rarely studied. This study investigated the impact of varying aquaculture soundscapes on largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). Three soundscapes were administered to replicated tanks: Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS:107.7 dB re 1 Pa RMS), In-Pond Raceway System (IPRS:115.1 dB re 1 Pa RMS), and Ambient (70.4 dB re 1 Pa RMS) as the control. The initial weight of fish in the three groups was 3.59 ± 0.30 g. Following a 50-day experimental period, the average weight of the Ambient group (14.08 ± 0.13 g) was significantly greater than that of the IPRS group (12.79 ± 0.08 g) (p < 0.05). Examination of physiological samples revealed that the soundscape negatively impacted the fish’s immunological, anti-oxidation, and digestive enzymes. Furthermore, the external noise also influenced the locomotive patterns of the fish aggregations. Fish polarity and cohesion were significantly more discrete (p < 0.05) in both the RAS (47.79 ± 2.34° and 98.52 ± 3.22 mm) and IPRS groups (48.04 ± 0.70° and 87.70 ± 7.31 mm) compared to the Ambient group (42.76 ± 1.42° and 85.73 ± 1.57 mm). These results highlight the significant impacts of the aquaculture soundscape on the development, physiological activities, and behavioral traits of largemouth bass. Future research should focus on determining and optimizing the impact of different equipment noise to ensure optimal welfare and production performance in aquaculture systems.