Open AccessThe effect of motorboat sound on Australian snapper Pagrus auratus inside and outside a marine reserve
Author(s) -
Mensinger Allen F.,
Putland Rosalyn L.,
Radford Craig A.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
ecology and evolution
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.17
H-Index - 63
ISSN - 2045-7758
DOI - 10.1002/ece3.4002
Subject(s) - sound (geography) , bay , fishery , environmental science , shore , fish <actinopterygii> , marine reserve , pagrus , underwater , habitat , oceanography , range (aeronautics) , nature reserve , geography , ecology , biology , geology , materials science , composite material
Abstract Human‐generated sound affects hearing, movement, and communication in both aquatic and terrestrial animals, but direct natural underwater behavioral observations are lacking. Baited underwater video ( BUV ) were deployed in near shore waters adjacent to Goat Island in the Cape Rodney–Okakari Point Marine Reserve (protected) or outside the reserve approximately four km south in Mathesons Bay (open), New Zealand to determine the natural behavior of Australian snapper Pagrus auratus exposed to motorboat sound. BUV s worked effectively at bringing fish into video range to assess the effects of sound. The snapper inhabiting the protected area showed no behavioral response to motorboat transits; however, fish in the open zones either scattered from the video frame or decreased feeding activity during boat presence. Our study suggests that motorboat sound, a common source of anthropogenic activity in the marine environment can affect fish behavior differently depending on the status of their habitat (protected versus open).