Abstract
Anthropogenic sound can affect fish behaviour and physiology which may affect their well-being. However, it remains a major challenge to translate such effects to consequences for fitness at an individual and population level. For this, energy budget models have been developed, but suitable data to parametrize these models are lacking. A first step towards such parametrization concerns the objective quantification of behavioural states at high resolution. We experimentally exposed individual Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) in a net pen to the playback of seismic airgun sounds. We demonstrated that individual cod in the net pen did not change their swimming patterns immediately at the onset of the sound exposure. However, several individuals changed their time spent in three different behavioural states during the 1 h exposure. This may be translated to changes in energy expenditure and provide suitable input for energy budget models that allow predictions about fitness and population consequences.
Highlights
Underwater sound pollution can impact fish and other marine life through a range of effects (Carroll et al, 2016; Popper and Hawkins, 2019)
We examined the occurrence and magnitude of swimming pattern changes at the onset of the sound pulse series and analysed the time spent in various behavioural states during the ex posure by exploiting current advances in processing of telemetry data
The randomization test showed that only one in dividual exhibited a response magnitude that exceeded the 95th per centile of randomized responses (Appendix 1, Table 1). This result is within the expected type 1 error rate for this test, there is no evidence for an immediate behavioural response at the onset of the sound exposure
Summary
Underwater sound pollution can impact fish and other marine life through a range of effects (Carroll et al, 2016; Popper and Hawkins, 2019). Non-lethal effects may seem less dramatic, it is likely that more individuals are exposed to moderate sound levels, and potentially will have a stronger impact at the population level (Boudreau et al, 2018; Lima and Dill, 1989). Disturbance-induced changes in individual behaviour and phy siology have to be translated into changes in vital rates (growth, re production and survival). These may subsequently be translated to changes in population dynamics (New et al, 2014; Pirotta et al, 2018). Comprehensive assessments using these models are rare be cause of the lack of relevant data (Pirotta et al, 2018; Slabbekoorn et al, 2019)
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