Painted Goby Larvae under High-CO2 Fail to Recognize Reef Sounds

A comparison of underwater speakers for fish playback studiesa)

Acoustic playback is a key method used to determine the behavioral significance of animal sounds, including fishes. This study presents the first comparison of the acoustic quality of underwater speakers for the playback of fish sounds. Seven underwater acoustic playback systems were tested for their ability to accurately reproduce the low frequency, pulsed, courtship sounds of a small fish, Tramitichromis intermedius (Cichlidae). Results indicated that in an aquarium with low ambient noise and at low amplitude playback levels (<120 dB re 1 μPa), the Clark Synthesis speakers were the best choice for playback at moderate distances (>20 cm), and that the Electro-Voice UW30 was the best speaker for short distance (<20 cm) playback of low frequency fish sounds. However, in aquaria with higher levels of ambient noise and at higher amplitude playback levels, the Clark Synthesis speakers performed best. However, none of these speaker systems reproduced a high-fidelity quality fish sound. It is important when using underwater speakers for behavioral studies that there is a careful assessment of the played back sound and comparison to the original sound.

Effects of anthropogenic noise and natural soundscape on larval fish behavior in four estuarine species

The larval and post-larval forms of many marine organisms, such as oysters, crabs, lobster, coral, and fish, utilize ambient acoustic cues to orient, settle, or metamorphose. In this study, the effect of anthropogenic and ambient sounds on the orientation behavior of four larval estuarine fishes was examined in a controlled, laboratory experiment. Pre-settlement size red drum Sciaenops ocellatus, southern flounder Paralichthys lethostigma, spotted seatrout Cynoscion nebulosus, and Florida blenny Chasmodes saburrae larvae were exposed to four sound treatments-control, estuarine soundscape, seismic airguns, and large-ship passage-in a linear acoustic chamber. Initial significant (p < 0.05) avoidance of airguns was observed in three of the four species (all but the Florida blenny), but habituation to this sound occurred as the experiment progressed. All species avoided ship passage sounds; however, the avoidance behavior was not significant. Interestingly, none of the species studied were significantly attracted to the acoustic cues alone of the estuarine soundscape; in fact, three of the four species spent less time near the speaker when it was broadcast. These results suggest that larval fish can potentially habituate to anthropogenic noise relatively quickly (<10 min). Understanding how sounds affect larval behavior is necessary because successful recruitment ultimately affects a population's success.

Ocean acidification effects on fish hearing

Humans are rapidly changing the marine environment through a multitude of effects, including increased greenhouse gas emissions resulting in warmer and acidified oceans. Elevated CO₂ conditions can cause sensory deficits and altered behaviours in marine organisms, either directly by affecting end organ sensitivity or due to likely alterations in brain chemistry. Previous studies show that auditory-associated behaviours of larval and juvenile fishes can be affected by elevated CO₂ (1000 µatm). Here, using auditory evoked potentials (AEP) and micro-computer tomography (microCT) we show that raising juvenile snapper, Chrysophyrs auratus, under predicted future CO₂ conditions resulted in significant changes to their hearing ability. Specifically, snapper raised under elevated CO₂ conditions had a significant decrease in low frequency (less than 200 Hz) hearing sensitivity. MicroCT demonstrated that these elevated CO₂ snapper had sacculus otolith's that were significantly larger and had fluctuating asymmetry, which likely explains the difference in hearing sensitivity. We suggest that elevated CO₂ conditions have a dual effect on hearing, directly effecting the sensitivity of the hearing end organs and altering previously described hearing induced behaviours. This is the first time that predicted future CO₂ conditions have been empirically linked through modification of auditory anatomy to changes in fish hearing ability. Given the widespread and well-documented impact of elevated CO₂ on fish auditory anatomy, predictions of how fish life-history functions dependent on hearing may respond to climate change may need to be reassessed.

Experimental assessments of marine species sensitivities to ocean acidification and co-stressors: how far have we come?

Experimental studies assessing the potential impacts of ocean acidification on marine organisms have rapidly expanded and produced a wealth of empirical data over the past decade. This perspective examines four key areas of transformative developments in experimental approaches: (1) methodological advances; (2) advances in elucidating physiological and molecular mechanisms behind observed CO2effects; (3) recognition of short-term CO2variability as a likely modifier of species sensitivities (Ocean Variability Hypothesis); and (4) consensus on the multistressor nature of marine climate change where effect interactions are still challenging to anticipate. No single experiment allows predicting the fate of future populations. But sustaining the accumulation of empirical evidence is critical for more robust estimates of species reaction norms and thus for enabling better modeling approaches. Moreover, advanced experimental approaches are needed to address knowledge gaps including changes in species interactions and intraspecific variability in sensitivity and its importance for the adaptation potential of marine organisms to a high CO2world.

Sub-lethal and lethal toxicities of elevated CO2 on embryonic, juvenile, and adult stages of marine medaka Oryzias melastigma

The potential leakage from marine CO₂ storage sites is of increasing concern, but few studies have evaluated the probable adverse effects on marine organisms. Fish, one of the top predators in marine environments, should be an essential representative species used for water column toxicity testing in response to waterborne CO₂ exposure. In the present study, we conducted fish life cycle toxicity tests to fully elucidate CO₂ toxicity mechanism effects. We tested sub-lethal and lethal toxicities of elevated CO₂ concentrations on marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma) at different developmental stages. At each developmental stage, the test species was exposed to varying concentrations of gaseous CO₂ (control air, 5%, 10%, 20%, and 30%), with 96 h of exposure at 0-4 d (early stage), 4-8 d (middle stage), and 8-12 d (late stage). Sub-lethal and lethal effects, including early developmental delays, cardiac edema, tail abnormalities, abnormal pigmentation, and mortality were monitored daily during the 14 d exposure period. At the embryonic stage, significant sub-lethal and lethal effects were observed at pH < 6.30. Hypercapnia can cause long-term and/or delayed developmental embryonic problems, even after transfer back to clean seawater. At fish juvenile and adult stages, significant mortality was observed at pH < 5.70, indicating elevated CO₂ exposure might cause various adverse effects, even during short-term exposure periods. It should be noted the early embryonic stage was found more sensitive to CO₂ exposure than other developmental stages of the fish life cycle. Overall, the present study provided baseline information for potential adverse effects of high CO₂ concentration exposure on fish developmental processes at different life cycle stages in marine ecosystems.

Sand smelt ability to cope and recover from ocean's elevated CO2 levels

Considered a major environmental concern, ocean acidification has induced a recent research boost into effects on marine biodiversity and possible ecological, physiological, and behavioural impacts. Although the majority of literature indicate negative effects of future acidification scenarios, most studies are conducted for just a few days or weeks, which may be insufficient to detect the capacity of an organism to adjust to environmental changes through phenotypic plasticity. Here, the effects and the capacity of sand smelt larvae Atherina presbyter to cope and recover (through a treatment combination strategy) from short (15 days) and long-term exposure (45 days) to increasing pCO₂ levels (control: ~515 μatm, pH = 8.07; medium: ~940 μatm, pH = 7.84; high: ~1500 μatm, pH = 7.66) were measured, addressing larval development traits, behavioural lateralization, and biochemical biomarkers related with oxidative stress and damage, and energy metabolism and reserves. Although behavioural lateralization was not affected by high pCO₂ exposure, morphometric changes, energetic costs, and oxidative stress damage were impacted differently through different exposures periods. Generally, short-time exposures led to different responses to either medium or high pCO₂ levels (e.g. development, cellular metabolism, or damage), while on the long-term the response patterns tend to become similar between them, with both acidification scenarios inducing DNA damage and tending to lower growth rates. Additionally, when organisms were transferred to lower acidified condition, they were not able to recover from the mentioned DNA damage impacts. Overall, results suggest that exposure to future ocean acidification scenarios can induce sublethal effects on early life-stages of fish, but effects are dependent on duration of exposure, and are likely not reversible. Furthermore, to improve our understanding on species sensitivity and adaptation strategies, results reinforce the need to use multiple biological endpoints when assessing the effects of ocean acidification on marine organisms.

On the wrong track: ocean acidification attracts larval fish to irrelevant environmental cues

Population replenishment of marine life largely depends on successful dispersal of larvae to suitable adult habitat. Ocean acidification alters behavioural responses to physical and chemical cues in marine animals, including the maladaptive deterrence of settlement-stage larval fish to odours of preferred habitat and attraction to odours of non-preferred habitat. However, sensory compensation may allow fish to use alternative settlement cues such as sound. We show that future ocean acidification reverses the attraction of larval fish (barramundi) to their preferred settlement sounds (tropical estuarine mangroves). Instead, acidification instigates an attraction to unfamiliar sounds (temperate rocky reefs) as well as artificially generated sounds (white noise), both of which were ignored by fish living in current day conditions. This finding suggests that by the end of the century, following a business as usual CO2 emission scenario, these animals might avoid functional environmental cues and become attracted to cues that provide no adaptive advantage or are potentially deleterious. This maladaptation could disrupt population replenishment of this and other economically important species if animals fail to adapt to elevated CO2 conditions.

Physiological implications of ocean acidification for marine fish: emerging patterns and new insights

Ocean acidification (OA) is an impending environmental stress facing all marine life, and as such has been a topic of intense research interest in recent years. Numerous detrimental effects have been documented in marine fish, ranging from reduced mortality to neurosensory impairment, and the prevailing opinions state that these effects are largely the downstream consequences of altered blood carbon dioxide chemistry caused by respiratory acid-base disturbances. While the respiratory acid-base disturbances are consistent responses to OA across tested fish species, it is becoming increasingly clear that there is wide variability in the degree of downstream impairments between species. This can also be extended to intraspecies variability, whereby some individuals have tolerant physiological traits, while others succumb to the effects of OA. This review will synthesize relevant literature on marine fish to highlight consistent trends of impairment, as well as observed interspecies variability in the responses to OA, and the potential routes of physiological acclimation. In all cases, whole animal responses are linked to demonstrated or proposed physiological impairments. Major topics of focus include: (1) respiratory acid-base disturbances; (2) early life survival and growth; (3) the implications for metabolic performance, activity, and reproduction; and (4) emerging physiological theories pertaining to neurosensory impairment and the role of GABA_A receptors. Particular emphasis is placed on the importance of understanding the underlying physiological traits that confer inter- and intraspecies tolerance, as the abundance of these traits will decide the long-term outlook of marine fish.