Sensitivity of Pagurus bernhardus (L.) to substrate-borne vibration and anthropogenic noise

Roberts, Louise; Cheesman, Samuel; Elliott, Michael; Breithaupt, Thomas

Abstract

© 2015 Elsevier B.V. Despite the prevalence of vibration produced by anthropogenic activities impacting the seabed there are few data and little information as to whether these are detected by crustaceans and whether they interfere with their behaviour. Here the sensitivity of unconditioned Pagurus bernhardus to substrate-borne vibration was quantified by exposure to sinusoidal vibrations of 5-410Hz of varied amplitudes using the staircase method of threshold determination, with threshold representing the detection of the response and two behavioural responses used as reception indicators: movement of the second antenna and onset or cessation of locomotion. Thresholds were compared to measured vibrations close to anthropogenic operations and to the time in captivity prior to tests. Behaviour varied according to the strength of the stimulus with a significant difference in average threshold values between the two behavioural indicators, although there was an overlap between the two, with overall sensitivity ranging from 0.09-0.44ms -2 (root mean squared, RMS). Crabs of shortest duration in captivity prior to tests had significantly greater sensitivity to vibration, down to 0.02ms -2 (RMS). The sensitivity of P. bernhardus fell well within the range of vibrations measured near anthropogenic operations. The data indicate that anthropogenic substrate-borne vibrations have a clear effect on the behaviour of a common marine crustacean. The study emphasises that these vibrations are an important component of noise pollution that requires further attention to understand the long term effects on marine crustaceans.

Citation

Roberts, L., Cheesman, S., Elliott, M., & Breithaupt, T. (2016). Sensitivity of Pagurus bernhardus (L.) to substrate-borne vibration and anthropogenic noise. Journal of experimental marine biology and ecology, 474, 185-194. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2015.09.014

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 23, 2015
• Online Publication Date: Nov 3, 2015
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2016
• Deposit Date: Dec 21, 2015
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 23, 2017
• Journal: Journal of experimental marine biology and ecology
• Print ISSN: 0022-0981
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 474
• Pages: 185-194
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2015.09.014
• Keywords: Vibration; Sensitivity threshold; Crustacea; Anthropogenic noise
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/383280
• Publisher URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022098115300277
• Additional Information: Authors' accepted manuscript of article published in Journal of experimental marine biology and ecology, 2016, v.474.