title: Condition-dependent physiological and behavioural responses to anthropogenic noise.
abstract: Anthropogenic (man-made) noise, a global pollutant of international concern, is known to affect the physiology and behaviour of a range of organisms. However, experimental studies have tended to focus on trait means; intra-population variation in responses are likely, but have rarely been explored. Here we use established experimental methods to demonstrate a condition-dependent effect of additional noise. We show that juvenile European eels (Anguilla anguilla) in good condition do not respond differently to playbacks of ambient coastal noise and coastal noise with passing ships. By contrast, the additional noise of ship passes caused an increase in ventilation rate and a decrease in startling to a looming predatory stimulus in poor condition eels. Intra-population variation in responses to noise has important implications both for population dynamics and the planning of mitigation measures.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Purser
authors.affiliation: Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK.
authors.forename: Rick
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bruintjes
authors.affiliation: Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK.
authors.forename: Stephen D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK. Electronic address: andy.radford@bristol.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Andrew N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Radford
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000811:Anguilla / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation; D013216:Reflex, Startle; D012767:Ships; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Anti-predator behaviour; Experimental manipulation; Ship noise; Sound; Stress; Ventilation rate