The Effect of Sound on Fish and Marine Invertebrates

Paul White

Outline

• Introduction/Update to ISVR

• The use of, and problems associated with, sound underwater.

• Sound and Anguilliformes (eels and lamprey)

• Impact of sound on Marine Invertebrates

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The University of Southampton

Southampton

London

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Academic and administrative structure

8 Faculties

ISVR

University of Southampton

Faculty of Engineering and the Environment (FEE): 4 Academic Units

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Faculty of Engineering and the Environment (FEE)

FEE

ISVR CMEES AACE Eng. Sci. Civil Aero. Mech.

Education Enterprise

Consultancy

ISVR Consulting

USAIS Academic Units

Departments

ANTC Micro- fluidics

Structures

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Director: Paul White

Dynamics: David Thompson

Acoustics Phil Joseph

Human Sciences David Simpson

Signal Processing & Control Group

Steve Daley

Clinical and Consulting Units

USAIS (Uni Soton Auditory Implant Service)

Carl Verschuur

ISVR Consulting Malcolm Smith

Research Groups

Deputy HoS Education: Neil Ferguson

ISVR internal organisation

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Academic Consulting Unit

and Clinic

Research

Administrative

Undergraduate M.Eng./B.Eng./B.Sc.

Graduate M.Sc.

M.Phil./Ph.D.

~ 90

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65 31

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~130

~50

Staff and students

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Programmes of Study

BEng/MEng Acoustical Engineering (3/4 years) BSc Acoustics and Music (3 years) BSc Audiology (4 years)

MSc Sound and Vibration Studies (1 year) MSc Audiology (1 year)

MPhil/PhD (3 years) EngD (4 years) – only open to UK students

Highlights of Funding Successes

• Platform grant + large industrial contract in 3D audio.

• The Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre (UTC) in gas turbine noise.

• BAe support for Centre for Research in Active Control (CRAC)

• Mapping the Underworld

• EU Grant on Cochlear modelling

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Bioacoustics in general

• Areas of interest:

– How animals hear and produce sound: biometics

– The impact of noise on animals

– Use of acoustics to study animal behaviour

– Use of acoustics to manipulate animals

• Species groups commonly considered:

– Marine mammals

– Birds

– Fish

– Invertebrates

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Bioacoustics in ISVR

• Topics considered include:

– Using dolphins to inspire novel sonar/radar technologies.

– Bat echolocation

– Analysis and classification of dolphin whistles

– Automated humpback whale song classification

– Monitoring owl populations

– Sound and fish

– Impacts of marine invertebrates

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Eels (European eel – Anguilla anguilla)

• An IUCN red listed species.

– Current recruitment is 1% of pre-1980’s levels.

• European Union states that nations must implement an eel management plan.

• Eel life cycle (catadromous)

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What has this to do with acoustics?

• The EU require that (at least) 40% of adult eels can return to the sea to spawn.

• Eel migration is encumbered by man-made structures and water abstraction sites.

• Mechanical screening many not be effective – is an acoustic barrier a viable alternative?

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Eel hearing

• Electrophsyiological measurement of an audiogram.

• Eels appear to be sensitive to low frequency sounds.

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Jerko et al., J. Comp. Physio. A, 455-459, 1989

+100 dB to convert to “re 1 µPa”

On-going work at ISVR

• In collaboration with colleagues in the International Centre for Ecohydraulics Research (ICER) based in CMEES (Civil, Maritime and Environmental Engineering Sci Unit) in FEE.

• Field measurements of eels around an infra sound source.

• Computing electrophysiological and behavioural audiograms for Anguilliformes (eels and lamprey).

– Other work in this area includes: schooling behaviour in response to sound, the Lombard effect in fish, the effect of sound on sea-horses, study of pile driving noise, noise mapping and the potential effect on eel migration routes.

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Field Measurements of Eel Behaviour

• Field site is at Longham in Dorset (~30 miles from Soton) on the River Stour.

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Infrasound source Eel rack (once commercial)

Experimental Procedure

• The sound field from the source is mapped.

• Migrating eels are trapped and acoustically tagged.

• They are released upstream of the study site and their movements studied when the infrasound source is on and when it is off.

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On

Off

Off

On

Audiograms of Animals

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• In general two ways of estimating the audiograms of animals.

– Behavioural

• Play a sound an look for a measureable response – can be augmented via conditioning

– Electrophysiological

• Use electrodes to detect the brain activity associated with hearing the sound – e.g. Jerko’s measurement of an eel’s audiogram

Behavioural Tests for Anguilliformes

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Eels and Lamprey

Electrophysiological Tests

• Based on measuring auditory brainstem responses (ABRs)

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Lamprey

Electrodes

Marine Invertebrates

• In collaboration with colleagues at the National Oceanography Centre.

• The effect of sound on marine mammals and fish has been considered for some time (albeit many questions remain).

• The possible effect of noise on benthic invertebrate species has received almost no consideration.

• These species form a vital part of the ecosystem.

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Chosen Species

• Venerupis philippinarum (bivalve/clam)

• Amphiura filiformis (brittle star)

• Nephrops norvegicus (Norway lobster)

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Measuring impact of Sound on Invertebrates

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Metrics

• Three conditions, 7 day exposures:

– Ambient noise

– Impulsive (pile driving)

– Continuous Ship

• Bioturbation (luminophores)

• Glucose and latcose

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Results

• The Amphiura showed no response

• Whereas the bivalves and Nephrops did modify their behaviour.

– These bivalves reduce activity in response to sound.

– Conversely Nephrops increased activity (significantly for continuous sounds and not significantly for impulsive)

• The biochemistry did not reveal any significant changes in the glucose or lactate as a result of the exposures.

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Thank you for listening (unlike the Amphiura)

Any questions?