Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)
Document Type
Poster
Publication Date
5-1-2025
Disciplines
Biology
Advisor
Trevor Keyler
Abstract
Anthropogenic noise can have adverse effects on fish populations. High-amplitude noise can cause hearing damage and interfere with essential behaviors, including feeding, migration, and reproduction. Studies suggest that fish regularly exposed to boat noise in lakes exhibit different behavioral responses compared to populations in quieter environments. Bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) were collected via angling from a “Quiet Lake” (Lake Sagatagan, Collegeville, MN) with no motor use, and a “Loud Lake” (Upper Spunk Lake, Avon, MN) with frequent motor use. Bluegill foraging behavior was examined in response to daily playback of motorboat traffic. Bluegill (n = 5 individuals per trial; n = 5 trials per condition) were exposed to two-day trials under four conditions: Quiet Lake with no sound, Quiet Lake with simulated boat traffic (sound), Loud Lake with no sound, and Loud Lake with sound, for a total of four experimental conditions. Fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) were replenished at three time points for each trial (Day 1 morning, Day 1 evening, and Day 2 morning) to maintain a constant prey population of 10 minnows throughout the trial. Analysis revealed no statistically significant differences in minnow consumption between groups, suggesting that sound and lake conditions did not significantly affect foraging behavior. There was, however, a significant difference across time points, with more minnows consumed on Day 1 than Day 2.
Recommended Citation
Wiley, Dayna, "The Effect of Anthropogenic Sound on Foraging Behavior in Bluegill Sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus)" (2025). Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-). 299.
https://digitalcommons.csbsju.edu/ur_cscday/299
