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van der Knaap I, Reubens J, Thomas L, Ainslie MA, Winter HV, Hubert J, Martin B, Slabbekoorn H. Effects of a seismic survey on movement of free-ranging Atlantic cod. Curr Biol 2021; 31:1555-1562.e4. [PMID: 33567289 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.01.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Geophysical exploration of the seabed is typically done through seismic surveys, using airgun arrays that produce intense, low-frequency-sound pulses1 that can be heard over hundreds of square kilometers, 24/7.2,3 Little is known about the effects of these sounds on free-ranging fish behavior.4-6 Effects reported range from subtle individual change in activity and swimming depth for captive fish7,8 to potential avoidance9 and changes in swimming velocity and diurnal activity patterns for free-swimming animals.10 However, the extent and duration of behavioral responses to seismic surveys remain largely unexplored for most fish species.4 In this study, we investigated the effect of a full-scale seismic survey on the movement behavior of free-swimming Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). We found that cod did not leave the detection area more than expected during the experimental survey but that they left more quickly from 2 days to 2 weeks after the survey. Furthermore, during the exposure, cod decreased their activity, with time spent being "locally active" (moving small distances, showing high body acceleration) becoming shorter, and time spent being "inactive" (moving small distances, having low body acceleration) becoming longer. Additionally, diurnal activity cycles were disrupted with lower locally active peaks at dusk and dawn, periods when cod are known to actively feed.11,12 The combined effects of delayed deterrence and activity disruption indicate the potential for seismic surveys to affect energy budgets and to ultimately lead to population-level consequences.13.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inge van der Knaap
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, Leiden 2333 BE, the Netherlands; Marine Biology Lab, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, Ghent 9000, Belgium.
| | - Jan Reubens
- Flanders Marine Institute, Wandelaarkaai 7, Ostend 8400, Belgium
| | - Len Thomas
- Centre for Research into Ecological & Environmental Modelling, University of St Andrews, Buchanan Gardens, St Andrews, Scotland KY16 9LZ, UK
| | - Michael A Ainslie
- JASCO Applied Sciences, Mergenthaler Allee 15-21, Eschborn 65760, Germany
| | - Hendrik V Winter
- Wageningen Marine Research, Wageningen University & Research, Haringkade 1, IJmuiden 1976 CP, the Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Hubert
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, Leiden 2333 BE, the Netherlands
| | - Bruce Martin
- JASCO Applied Sciences, Mergenthaler Allee 15-21, Eschborn 65760, Germany; JASCO Applied Sciences, 202-32 Troop Avenue, Dartmouth, NS B3B 1Z1, Canada
| | - Hans Slabbekoorn
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, Leiden 2333 BE, the Netherlands
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Griffiths CA, Wright SR, Silva JF, Ellis JR, Righton DA, McCully Phillips SR. Horizontal and vertical movements of starry smooth-hound Mustelus asterias in the northeast Atlantic. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0239480. [PMID: 33112858 PMCID: PMC7592766 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0239480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Commercial landings of starry smooth-hound Mustelus asterias in northern European seas are increasing, whilst our knowledge of their ecology, behaviour and population structure remains limited. M. asterias is a widely distributed demersal shark, occupying the waters of the southern North Sea and Irish Sea in the north, to at least the southern Bay of Biscay in the south, and is seasonally abundant in UK waters. There are no species-specific management measures for the northeast Atlantic stock, and the complexity of its population structure is not yet fully understood. To address this issue, we deployed both mark-recapture and electronic tags on M. asterias to gain novel insights into its horizontal and vertical movements. Our data suggest that the habitat use of M. asterias changes on a seasonal basis, with associated changes in geographical distribution, depth utilisation and experienced temperature. We report the first direct evidence of philopatry for this species, and also provide initial evidence of sex-biased dispersal and potential metapopulation-like stock structuring either side of the UK continental shelf. Investigations of finer-scale vertical movements revealed clear diel variation in vertical activity. The illustrated patterns of seasonal space-use and behaviour will provide important information to support the stock assessment process and will help inform any future management options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher A. Griffiths
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Lowestoft, Suffolk, United Kingdom
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Serena R. Wright
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Lowestoft, Suffolk, United Kingdom
| | - Joana F. Silva
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Lowestoft, Suffolk, United Kingdom
| | - Jim R. Ellis
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Lowestoft, Suffolk, United Kingdom
| | - David A. Righton
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Lowestoft, Suffolk, United Kingdom
| | - Sophy R. McCully Phillips
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Lowestoft, Suffolk, United Kingdom
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Adam T, Griffiths CA, Leos‐Barajas V, Meese EN, Lowe CG, Blackwell PG, Righton D, Langrock R. Joint modelling of multi‐scale animal movement data using hierarchical hidden Markov models. Methods Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Timo Adam
- Bielefeld University Bielefeld Germany
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