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

FILICIOTTO F; SAL MOYANO M. P.; DE VICENZI G; HIDALGO F; SCIACCA V; BAZTERRICA MC; CORRIAS V; LORUSSO M; MAZZOLA S; BUSCAINO G; GAVIO MA

MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2018 vol. 137 p. 24 - 34

0025-326X

This study examined the effects of human lab-generated noise (sweep tone) on the behaviour and biochemistry of a semi-terrestrial crab (Neohelice granulata). The experiment was carried out in tanks equipped with video- and audio-recording systems on a total of seventy-eight specimens. In total, 42 experimental trials with sweep-tone exposure and control conditions were performed using crabs in single and group layouts. After a habituation period of 30 minutes, the locomotor and acoustic (sound signals emitted by the crabs) behaviours were monitored for 30 minutes. During this time, the animals in sweep-tone conditions were exposed to ascending sweeps in a bandwidth range of 2.5 ? 25 kHz. Exposure to sweep-tone noise produced significant changes in the number of signals emitted, locomotor behaviours and plasma parameters, such as haemolymph total haemocyte count and glucose, lactate and total protein concentrations, revealing that human noisecould represent a disturbance for this crustacean species.