Effects of low-frequency noise and temperature on copepod and amphipod performance

Abstract

Offshore wind farms (OWF) are bound to increase as a mitigation strategy to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, it is crucial to address all of their potential impacts on key ecosystem components in detail. Especially, the chronic effect of noise created during OWF turbine operations (duration 20-25 years) must be understood. As sensitive receptors cover the whole body of crustaceans to detect their surroundings, those low frequency noises may disrupt basic ecological (prey detection and predator avoidance) and physiological (metabolism) functions. Here we present an investigation designed to understand the joint effect of noise and increased temperature on copepod. The pelagic copepod Acartia tonsa is commonly used as a proxy for a range of fundamental processes that relate to marine planktonic crustaceans. Given that higher temperatures increase metabolic demands, the experiment was conducted at three different temperature levels (18, 21, 24°C) combined with silent and noise treatments. We assessed the combined effects on energetic balance, and oxidative stress indicators. The outputs of the project will provide important information on the potential impact of low-frequency noise on marine invertebrate key organisms with implications for secondary production and ecosystem functioning.

Decreased feeding rates of the copepod Acartia tonsa when exposed to playback harbor traffic noise

“…Our results are inconsistent with a feeding experiment by Tremblay et al (2019) in which A. tonsa was exposed to a noise egg, a waterproof device that produces low-frequency sound (de Jong et al, 2017). Nevertheless, they found a physiological response correlated with oxidative stress (Tremblay et al, 2019).…”

“…Our results are inconsistent with a feeding experiment by Tremblay et al (2019) in which A. tonsa was exposed to a noise egg, a waterproof device that produces low-frequency sound (de Jong et al, 2017). Nevertheless, they found a physiological response correlated with oxidative stress (Tremblay et al, 2019). Hydromechanical disturbances from different prey types are sensed by mechanoreceptive setae on the first antenna of calanoid copepods (Yen et al, 1992;Goncalves and Kiørboe, 2015), such as Acartia sp.…”

“…Pine et al, 2012;Sal Moyano et al, 2021). Previous studies on the effects of continuous anthropogenic underwater noise on marine crustacean holoplankton found significant physiological and morphological impacts (Soléet al, 2016;Tremblay et al, 2019;Soléet al, 2021b) from which only two investigated marine copepods (Tremblay et al, 2019;Soléet al, 2021b; see also review Vereide and Kühn, 2023). Further investigations of the effects of anthropogenic underwater noise on copepod behavior are therefore needed.…”

How the noises could affect marine food webs? A lack of zooplankton’s studies.

“…They also suggest a modification of gene expressionbut they did not know the effects of these genes on organisms. A chronic noise exposition of copepods, done by Tremblay et al (2019), also leads to physiological impacts with an alteration of ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) activities. Therefore, these few studies showed that marine zooplankton can perceive and respond to anthropogenic noises, but their responses remain poorly investigated.…”

“…For short-and long-term experiments, we could measure the various parameters as the ROS, the organisms' composition, and the gene expression, providing information regarding the basis of the chain reaction (Dahms et al, 2016). For instance, Lee et al (2019) used various ROS (Glutathione, GST, Glutathione Reductase, GR, Glutathione Peroxidase, GPx, Superoxyde Dismutase, SOD) to determine how ocean acidification affected T. japonicus, and Tremblay et al (2019) observed similar effects for a chronic noise exposition of the copepods Acartia tonsa. Won et al (2014) measured concentration of a copepods' fatty acid due to UV exposition, whereas Prosnier et al (2022a) measured the quantity of carbohydrates, lipids and protein of D. magna infected by a virus.…”