Pile driving noise induces transient gait disruptions in the longfin squid (Doryteuthis pealeii)

Abstract

Anthropogenic noise is now a prominent pollutant increasing in both terrestrial and marine environments. In the ocean, proliferating offshore windfarms, a key renewable energy source, are a prominent noise concern, as their pile driving construction is among the most intense anthropogenic sound sources. Yet, across taxa, there is little information of pile driving noise impacts on organismal fine-scale movement despite its key link to individual fitness. Here, we experimentally quantified the swimming behavior of an abundant squid species (Doryteuthis pealeii) of vital commercial and ecological importance in response to in situ pile driving activity on multiple temporal and spatial scales (thus exposed to differing received levels, or noise-doses). Pile driving induced energetically costly alarm-jetting behaviors in most (69%) individuals at received sound levels (in zero to peak) of 112-123 dB re 1 µm s-2, levels similar to those measured at the kilometer scale from some wind farm construction areas. No responses were found at a comparison site with lower received sound levels. Persistence of swimming pattern changes during noise-induced alarm responses, a key metric addressing energetic effects, lasted up to 14 s and were significantly shorter in duration than similar movement changes caused by natural conspecific interactions. Despite observing dramatic behavioral changes in response to initial pile driving noise, there was no evidence of gait changes over an experiment day. These results demonstrate that pile driving disrupts squid fine-scale movements, but impacts are short-lived suggesting that offshore windfarm construction may minimally impact the energetics of this ecologically key taxon. However, further work is needed to assess potential behavioral and physiological impacts at higher noise levels.

Vessel sound causes hearing loss for hummingbird bobtail squid (Euprymna berryi)

“…Sustained reductions in feeding behaviour due to anthropogenic stressors could lead to reduced survival, especially in regions with patchy prey distributions or limited prey abundance (Jones et al, 2021). However, behavioural impacts, including alarm jetting, may be short lived and have minimal impacts on squid energetics (Cones et al, 2022). It is also important to consider the effects of noise exposure on cephalopods in the context of their natural environment.…”

“…More soundscape studies are needed to confirm the sound levels that different species are exposed to as well as spatial and temporal trends in anthropogenic noise exposure. While there is some evidence of habituation to acoustic stimuli in cephalopods (Samson et al, 2016;Cones et al, 2022), most behavioural experiments on the effect of noise on aquatic life have been conducted in the laboratory where conditions can be controlled, and individuals observed. Yet, the caveats of working in a laboratory environment must be noted, as small experimental tanks have complex acoustic fields with overlapping reflection and refraction (Jeźequel et al, 2022).…”

Bioadhesive interface for marine sensors on diverse soft fragile species

“…8) through three-dimensional acceleration and orientation via the BIMS. The individual data allowed us to identify the representative movement behaviors of specific animals 21,27 , such as bi-directional swimming in squid, jet propulsion in jellyfish (Fig. 3a-d), and finning rates for squid (1.75 Hz) and skate (2.54 Hz) (Fig.…”