HEARING UNDER AMBIENT AND SHIP NOISECONDITIONS: A CASE STUDY ON FISHES FROMA PROTECTED AREA IN THE ADRIATIC SEA

摘要

Anthropogenic noise emanating from ship and boat traffic causesgrowing concerns because it might hinder acoustic orientation andcommunication in vocalizing fish species. The Miramare MarineNatural Reserve is located in a coastal area of the Gulf of Trieste(North Adriatic Sea, Italy) characterized by considerable commercialand recreational boat traffic. Noise emanating from this source is aninevitable factor for fishes living in this reserve. The present workaims to understand to what degree ambient noise and recreationalboat noises affect the auditory sensitivity and, subsequently, acousticcommunication of two local vocal species, the damselfish Chromischromis (Pomacentridae) and the drum Sciaena umbra (Sciaenidae).