title: Does Noise From Shipping and Boat Traffic Affect Predator Vigilance in the European Common Hermit Crab?
abstract: The effect of noise on predator vigilance in Pagurus bernhardus was explored in this study. Latency of the first response, emergence time, and response type were measured from hermit crabs during continuous and variable vessel noise and two controls. The mean (±SE) response latency was longer for the noise treatments (continuous, 18.19 ± 2.78 s; variable, 11.39 ± 1.48 s) than for the controls (ambient, 7.21 ± 0.82 s; silent, 6.66 ± 0.95 s). Response type and emergence time were not significantly affected but were more variable during the noise treatments than during the controls. Noisy conditions may increase predation risk, suggesting potential fitness consequences for invertebrates.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, 513 Graham Kerr Building, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK. anna.mcgregor@glasgow.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Anna E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Nousek-McGregor
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, 513 Graham Kerr Building, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK. 0900440T@student.gla.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Francesca Tee Liang
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Mei
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D033381:Anomura / Q000502:physiology*; D009622:Noise; D011235:Predatory Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012767:Ships
keywords: Distraction; Escape response; Invertebrates; Predation; Survival