Interspecific variation in the response of fish to anthropogenic noise

Experiments concerned the responses of bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) and spottail shiner (Notropus hudsonius) to elevated levels of underwater boat noise. Experiments were either controls ("c") or noise ("n") exposure with three separate sound files presented in randomized order to avoid pseudoreplication. Responses were quantified as exploring, resting, hiding, schooling (all as time spent), and the number of startles, C-starts, and foraging strikes. Fish were tested in groups of 2 over a total of 11 trials/treatment types. Methods Data collection was by individual scoring of video responses of fish to noise or control conditions.