title: Effects of Sound on the Behavior of Wild, Unrestrained Fish Schools.
abstract: To assess and manage the impact of man-made sounds on fish, we need information on how behavior is affected. Here, wild unrestrained pelagic fish schools were observed under quiet conditions using sonar. Fish were exposed to synthetic piling sounds at different levels using custom-built sound projectors, and behavioral changes were examined. In some cases, the depth of schools changed after noise playback; full dispersal of schools was also evident. The methods we developed for examining the behavior of unrestrained fish to sound exposure have proved successful and may allow further testing of the relationship between responsiveness and sound level.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Estuarine and Coastal Studies (IECS), University of Hull, Hull, Yorkshire, HU6 7RX, UK. l.roberts@2010.hull.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.affiliation: Subacoustech Environmental Ltd, Claylands Park, Bishops Waltham, Hampshire, SO32 1QD, UK. sam.cheesman@subacoustech.com.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cheesman
authors.affiliation: Loughine Ltd, Kincraig, Blairs, Aberdeen, AB12 5YT, UK. a.hawkins@btconnect.com.
authors.forename: Anthony D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Hawkins
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000502:physiology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D005399:Fishes / Q000502:physiology*; D013016:Sound; D013018:Sound Spectrography
keywords: Behavior; Mackerel; Pelagic fish; Playback; Sonar; Underwater sound