Effects of boat motor sound on bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) nesting behavior


SOCIETY FOR INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY
2021 VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING (VAM)
January 3 – Febuary 28, 2021

Meeting Abstract


21-6  Sat Jan 2  Effects of boat motor sound on bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) nesting behavior Hall, LM*; Mensinger, AF; University of Minnesota-Duluth; University of Minnesota-Duluth hall1722@d.umn.edu

Although anthropogenic activity and sound levels have been increasing in freshwater ecosystems, their effect on freshwater species is relatively unexplored. Boat motor sound is a prominent stimulus that the recreational use of lakes adds to the freshwater soundscape. Bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) are a common target of anglers and therefore can experience frequent anthropogenic sound. To examine the effects boat motor sound has on nesting bluegills, the soundscape and fish were monitored near established nests using an underwater array equipped with a hydrophone, video camera, and underwater speaker in a lake in Makinen, MN. Nest rim circling is a prominent behavior of nesting bluegills and functions to aerate the eggs and increase vigilance. This behavior was monitored before, during, and after each sound trial. Individual nests were exposed to either shorter, frequent playbacks of boat motor sound (6 x 30 sec playback with 5 min intersound intervals) or longer duration, less frequent playback (3 x 5 min playback with 30 min intersound intervals). Preliminary results indicate rim circling behavior decreases during boat motor playback but that nesting bluegills do not orient towards the speaker. Any reduction in rim circling in the presence of boat motor sound could decrease reproductive fitness by compromising egg aeration and the ability of the fish to defend against intruders. Examining these behavioral responses will help investigate if sound from recreational boat use disrupts bluegill nesting behavior and may lead to boating restrictions during nesting season.

the Society for
Integrative &
Comparative
Biology