Are semi-terrestrial crabs threated by human noise? Assessment of biochemical and behavioural responses in Neohelice granulata (Brachyura, Varunidae)

FILICIOTTO, FRANCESCO; SALMOYANO, MARÍA PAZ; LORUSSO, MARTÍN; DE VICENZI, GIOVANNI; HIDALGO, FERNANDO JOSÉ; SCIACCA, VIRGINIA; BAZTERRICA, M CIELO; CORRIAS, VALENTINA; MAZZOLA, SALVATORE; BUSCAINO, GIUSEPPA; GAVIO, MARÍA ANDREA

MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2018

0025-326X

This study examined the effects of generated sweep tone noiseon the behaviour and biochemistry of the semi-terrestrial crab (Neohelicegranulata) in single and grouped configuration trials. The experiment wascarried out in tank equipped with video- and audio-recording system on atotal number of seventy-eight specimens. The experimental trials wereperformed under two conditions: control and sweep tone exposition. Afterhabituation period of 30 minutes, the locomotor behaviours and theacoustic signals emitted by the crabs were monitored for 30 minutes.During this experimental time, the animals in sweep tone condition wereexposed to ascending sweeps in a bandwidth of 2.5 - 25 kHz.The exposure to sweep tone noise produced significant changes in numberof signals emitted, locomotor behaviours and plasma parameters as totalhaemocyte count, glucose, lactate and total protein concentration,revealing that the noise generated could represent a threat for thiscrustacean species.