Many studies have focused on the effects of anthropogenic noise on animal communication, but only a few have looked at its effect on other behavioural systems. We designed a playback experiment to test the effect of noise on predation risk assessment. We found that in response to boat motor playback, Caribbean hermit crabs (Coenobita clypeatus) allowed a simulated predator to approach closer before they hid. Two hypotheses may explain how boat noise affected risk assessment: it masked an approaching predator's sound; and/or it reallocated some of the crabs' finite attention, effectively distracting them, and thus preventing them from responding to an approaching threat. We found no support for the first hypothesis: a silent looming object still got closer during boat motor playbacks than during silence. However, we found support for the attentional hypothesis: when we added flashing lights to the boat motor noise to further distract the hermit crabs, we were able to approach the crabs more closely than with the noise alone. Anthropogenic sounds may thus distract prey and make them more vulnerable to predation.

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Anthropomorphism has the potential to aid conservation biologist conserve target species by developing empathy among the public, effectively promoting considerate practice. There is a stigma associated with anthropomorphism in research because it often precludes unbiased data and compromises fact based results. However, I propose that anthropomorphism can be a means to accomplish the goals of conservation and management. Developing public support has been notoriously difficult, but encouraging anthropomorphism (i.e., attributing human characteristics to nonhuman animals) could help conservation biologists develop more empathy toward target species. Highlighting research that promotes animals as being similar to humans could cause the public to exhibit more conservation considerate practices. Therefore, anthropomorphism should be encouraged when appropriate.

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