Anthropogenic disturbance is a growing concern in the natural environment as human presence grows in previously undisturbed areas. Disturbance can lead to environmental stressors such as light, noise and chemical pollutants, increasing temperature and extreme weather events. Anthropogenic disturbance has been shown to cause negative effects for many animal species, from the individual to the ecosystem level. Many animals favour group living, as group behaviour can be beneficial for animals for information sharing and social learning. Individuals within a group can have different personalities and this personality variation may lead to differences in individual responses to anthropogenic stressors, which may lead to implications at the group level. At present, there is a research focus on the effects of anthropogenic noise on marine mammals, birds, and terrestrial animals, however research into the effects of anthropogenic noise on fish physiology and behaviour is beginning to emerge. Different fish species have different hearing mechanisms, with most species having the ability to detect sound through particle motion, therefore incorporating particle motion into sound-based studies will allow a more complete understanding of responses to noise disturbance. Here, I studied the effects of white noise on guppy (Poecilia reticulata) behaviour over multiple exposures, using video tracking software to analyse behaviour. In the white noise treatment guppies can be seen to spend more time in the quieter areas of the tank over a week, possibly showing behavioural habituation. This thesis highlights areas that still require further consideration, including the combination of multiple disturbance factors, the effect of multiple exposures to noise, and using appropriate acoustic metrics based on animals’ hearing mechanisms. Future research will be important in the implementation of successful mitigation methods in the face of environmental change through anthropogenic disturbance.
Investigating the impacts of anthropogenic noise on fish behaviour
Waples, E. V. (Author). 9 May 2023
Student thesis: Master's Thesis › Master of Science by Research (MScR)