Effect of biological and anthropogenic sound on the orientation behavior of four species of brachyuran crabs

CERAULO, M; NUÑEZ, J; GAVIO, MA; HIDALGO, FJ; RADFORD, CA; BUSCAINO, G; SAL MOYANO, MP; LUPPI, T; MAZZOLA, S

MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES

INTER-RESEARCH

Lugar: Oldendorf/Luhe; Año: 2021 vol. 669 p. 107 - 120

0171-8630

The settlement phase of crustaceans is critical and can ultimately affect population structure. Underwater sound has been proposed as one of the most important sensory cues these animals use during this phase because it can provide direction and habitat quality information. Here, we evaluated the effect of different acoustic signals (biological and anthropogenic ones) on the orientation response of different stages (megalopae and juveniles) of four crab?s crab´s (Cyrtograpsus angulatus, C. altimanus, Neohelice granulata, Leptuca uruguayensis) from a coastal lagoon. A binary choice chamber system was used and different sound sources: crustacean, fish and motorboat signals selected from recordings of the lagoon soundscape, were reproduced. Cyrtograpsus angulatus megalopae and juveniles responded positively towards crustacean signals, while juveniles responded negatively towards fish sounds. N. granulata juveniles orientated negatively towards crustacean, motorboat and fish signals. C. altimanus and L. uruguayensis juveniles did not respond to fish signals. The results motivate the idea that invertebrates can discriminate among conspecific signals and highlight the role of sound on prey-predator relationships. The behavioral orientation response to the motorboat sound evidences a presumable negative effect of the anthropogenic noise sound on the biological interactions of species. This is important to note given the urgent current necessityneed to increase knowledge about coastal marine lagoons for their protection, especially considering the role of the key species of studied crabs in this habitat