Substrate vibrations and their potential effects upon fishes and invertebrates

Abstract

This paper reviews the nature of substrate vibration within aquatic environments where seismic interface waves may travel along the surface of the substrate, generating high levels of particle motion. There are, however, few data on the ambient levels of particle motion close to the seabed and within the substrates of lakes and rivers. Nor is there information on the levels and the characteristics of the particle motion generated by anthropogenic sources in and on the substrate, which may have major effects upon fishes and invertebrates, all of which primarily detect particle motion. We therefore consider how to monitor substrate vibration and describe the information gained from modeling it. Unlike most acoustic modeling, we treat the substrate as a solid. Furthermore, we use a model where the substrate stiffness increases with depth but makes use of a wave that propagates with little or no dispersion. This shows the presence of higher levels of particle motion than those predicted from the acoustic pressures, and we consider the possible effects of substrate vibration upon fishes and invertebrates. We suggest that research is needed to examine the actual nature of substrate vibration and its effects upon aquatic animals.

The mechanical characterization of the legs, fangs, and prosoma in the spider Harpactira curvipes (Pocock 1897)

“…These, in different shapes and numbers up to the considered species, deform because of the detected vibration and transmit the relative signal by means of the nerves. The high stiffness of the legs’ cuticle, found in this work, may be thus important to facilitate the transmission of mechanical stimuli 50 , 51 , which may depend on both temperature and humidity 17 , to slit sensilla. Indeed, spider lyriform organs have high mechanical sensitivity, which also depends on their exponential stiffening behaviour, i.e.…”

Is It Time for Ecotremology?

“…The propagation of substrate vibrations through the environment is more complex than the propagation of airor water-borne sound. First, a vibrating source induces in the substrate several different types of mechanical waves simultaneously, while the substrate geometry and material composition influence their transmission properties and frequency dependence (see e.g., Michelsen et al, 1982;Aicher and Tautz, 1990;Barth, 1998;Hill, 2009;Polajnar et al, 2012;Mortimer, 2017;Hawkins et al, 2021). In addition, differences in physical properties within and between plants, with and between soil types, and with and between ground covers make the propagation of vibrations through the habitat highly difficult to predict (Hill, 2009;Elias and Mason, 2014;Strauß et al, 2021).…”

“…In addition, differences in physical properties within and between plants, with and between soil types, and with and between ground covers make the propagation of vibrations through the habitat highly difficult to predict (Hill, 2009;Elias and Mason, 2014;Strauß et al, 2021). Although the substrate can be any solid surface or object in the environment, the most relevant natural substrates from the perspective of ecosystem monitoring are plants and ground, including river-and seabed (Cocroft and Rodríguez, 2005;Roberts and Elliott, 2017;Hawkins et al, 2021). In the literature, vibrations propagating through the ground are often referred as seismic (e.g., Arnason et al, 2002).…”

“…Vibroscape composition also shows substantial diel and seasonal changes (McNett et al, 2010;Šturm et al, 2021). To develop adequate sampling design, studies of signal transmission on different substrates within the natural habitats, including sediments in aquatic environments (Roberts and Elliott, 2017;Hawkins et al, 2021) along with a comprehensive analysis of variation in vibroscape characteristics over short distances within a single field-site and long-term 24-h recordings are vital.…”

Noise Waveforms within Seabed Vibrations and Their Associated Evanescent Sound Fields

“…There have been other approaches to modeling the seabed structure that will be discussed later. Hawkins et al [9] have called for a better approach.…”