Comparing effects of auditory and visual disturbances on smallmouth bass parental care behaviors during the summer of 2025 at Douglas Lake, Michigan, USA

A prevalent source of sensory pollution within aquatic systems is recreational motorboats that can impact aquatic organisms through several exposure mechanisms. Auditory and visual sensory disturbances are particularly important as fish may utilize these cues during critical reproductive behaviors such as parental care. Here, we conducted a field study in Douglas Lake, Michigan, and located wild smallouth bass nests actively guarded by males. We exposed smallmouth bass to two sequential treatments of playback auditory noise and visual disturbances. Using an underwater drone, parental care behaviors of smallmouth bass were monitored before, during, and after both auditory and visual disturbances. The results show that auditory and visual disturbances may alter smallmouth bass parental care behaviors differently.