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Limiting motorboat noise on coral reefs boosts fish reproductive success

Author

Listed:
  • Sophie L. Nedelec

    (University of Exeter, Biosciences, Hatherly Laboratories)

  • Andrew N. Radford

    (University of Bristol, School of Biological Sciences)

  • Peter Gatenby

    (James Cook University)

  • Isla Keesje Davidson

    (University of Bristol, School of Biological Sciences)

  • Laura Velasquez Jimenez

    (James Cook University)

  • Maggie Travis

    (University of Puget Sound)

  • Katherine E. Chapman

    (University of Exeter, Biosciences, Hatherly Laboratories)

  • Kieran P. McCloskey

    (University of Exeter, Biosciences, Hatherly Laboratories)

  • Timothy A. C. Lamont

    (University of Exeter, Biosciences, Hatherly Laboratories
    Australian Institute of Marine Science
    Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University)

  • Björn Illing

    (James Cook University
    Thünen Institute of Fisheries Ecology)

  • Mark I. McCormick

    (James Cook University
    University of Waikato)

  • Stephen D. Simpson

    (University of Exeter, Biosciences, Hatherly Laboratories
    University of Bristol, School of Biological Sciences)

Abstract

Anthropogenic noise impacts are pervasive across taxa, ecosystems and the world. Here, we experimentally test the hypothesis that protecting vulnerable habitats from noise pollution can improve animal reproductive success. Using a season-long field manipulation with an established model system on the Great Barrier Reef, we demonstrate that limiting motorboat activity on reefs leads to the survival of more fish offspring compared to reefs experiencing busy motorboat traffic. A complementary laboratory experiment isolated the importance of noise and, in combination with the field study, showed that the enhanced reproductive success on protected reefs is likely due to improvements in parental care and offspring length. Our results suggest noise mitigation could have benefits that carry through to the population-level by increasing adult reproductive output and offspring growth, thus helping to protect coral reefs from human impacts and presenting a valuable opportunity for enhancing ecosystem resilience.

Suggested Citation

  • Sophie L. Nedelec & Andrew N. Radford & Peter Gatenby & Isla Keesje Davidson & Laura Velasquez Jimenez & Maggie Travis & Katherine E. Chapman & Kieran P. McCloskey & Timothy A. C. Lamont & Björn Illin, 2022. "Limiting motorboat noise on coral reefs boosts fish reproductive success," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-30332-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30332-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Marten Scheffer & Steve Carpenter & Jonathan A. Foley & Carl Folke & Brian Walker, 2001. "Catastrophic shifts in ecosystems," Nature, Nature, vol. 413(6856), pages 591-596, October.
    2. D. R. Bellwood & T. P. Hughes & C. Folke & M. Nyström, 2004. "Confronting the coral reef crisis," Nature, Nature, vol. 429(6994), pages 827-833, June.
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