Changes in the acoustic environment alter the foraging and sheltering behaviour of the cichlid Amititlania nigrofasciata.
Anthropogenic noise can affect behaviour across a wide range of species in both terrestrial and aquatic environments. However, behaviours might not be affected in isolation. Therefore, a more holistic approach investigating how environmental stressors, such as noise pollution, affect different behaviours in concert is necessary. Using tank-based noise exposure experiments, we tested how changes in the acoustic environment affect the behaviour of the cichlid Amatitlania nigrofasciata. We found that exposure to anthropogenic noise affected a couple of behaviours: an increase in sheltering was accompanied by a decrease in foraging. Our results highlight the multiple negative effects of an environmental stressor on an individual's behaviour.
Queen's University Belfast, Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Medical Biology Centre, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK. Electronic address: kmclaughlin23@qub.ac.uk.
Kirsty Elizabeth
KE
McLaughlin
Queen's University Belfast, Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Medical Biology Centre, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK. Electronic address: h.kunc@qub.ac.uk.
Hansjoerg P
HP
Kunc
D000818:Animals; D001070:Appetitive Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D023681:Cichlids / Q000502:physiology*; D004777:Environment; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D009622:Noise
Behaviour; Environmental stressor; Fish; Noise pollution; Underwater