Behavioural and biochemical stress responses of Palinurus elephas after exposure to boat noise pollution in tank

Abstract

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 1h habituation period, we audio- and video-recorded the lobsters for 1h. 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 parameters. Our results indicate that the lobsters exposed to boat noises increased significantly their locomotor activities and haemolymphatic bioindicator of stressful conditions such as glucose, total proteins, Hsp70 expression and THC when tested both singly and in groups.

Shipping noise affecting immune responses of European spiny lobster (Palinuruselephas)

“…Recently there have been reports in the literature that under acoustic stress, THC is persistently lowered, indicating that these practices may alter, at least temporarily, the number of circulating haemocytes (Celi et al 2013;Filiciotto et al 2014).…”

“…Recently, we showed that noise pollution upregulate Hsp70 protein expression in the red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852)) and European spiny lobster (Palinurus elephas (Fabricius, 1787)) (Celi et al 2013;Filiciotto et al 2014). According to their molecular size, they are usually classified into the following families: Hsp100s, Hsp90s, Hsp70s, Hsp60s, Hsp40s, and small heat shock proteins (smHsps).…”

An Italian proposal on the monitoring of underwater noise: Relationship between the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) and marine spatial planning directive (MSP)

“…This is because the creation of man-made structures, dredging, or the building of permanent structures can not only change the biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem, but also the acoustic landscape that characterizes it, thus also altering its ecology. Indeed, during the course of these activities, large amounts of mechanical energy can be spread, contributing to: an increase in stress factors for aquaculture species, the displacement of wild species, or the estrangement of one or more species from protected areas (Wysocki et al, 2006;Borsani et al, 2008;Filiciotto et al, 2013;Firestone 2 and Jarvis 3, 2007;Mitson and Knudsen, 2003). Other physical perturbation, which can be connected to maritime shipping and underwater acoustic equipment, can interfere in a more or less significant manner with all the activities identified by Art.…”

“…Laboratory activities are used to assess qualitative and quantitative factors and the effects that pollution sources can have on species Filiciotto et al, 2014). It is widely documented that, above certain thresholds of intensity and frequency, anthropogenic noise is a real impact factor from a bio-ecological point of view (alteration of physiological, biochemical and behavioral parameters) by acting as a limiting factor for the ecosystem (Popper and Hawkins, 2012;Vasconcelos et al, 2007).…”

Mitigation provisions to be implemented for marine seismic surveying in Latin America: a review based on fish and cetaceans

“…Respiration and oxygen con-sumption rates have been used as measures of direct physiological response in fish (Radford et al 2016), cephalopods (Kaifu et al 2007), and lobsters (Filiciotto et al 2014). As an example, European seabass exposed to playbacks of recordings of pile-driving and seismic surveys exhibited increased ventilation rates in relation to control individuals exposed to ambient-noise playback (Radford et al 2016).…”