An oyster in Italy
The world is becoming too bright for bats. Baby oysters are also feeling the impact of human-generated noise that is causing them stress and hindering their ability to find new habitats, as revealed by a recent study. Noise pollution in the seas may be contributing to issues like the spread of the oyster parasite MSX, weakening oyster populations.
Researchers at the University of Adelaide have found that oysters rely on specific sound signals to move and settle in suitable environments. Although they do not swim, baby oysters need to locate ideal habitats for survival:
Lead author Brittany Williams explained, “The ocean’s natural sounds are diminishing due to habitat loss, resulting in a quieter environment overshadowed by human-made noise pollution.”
Williams added, “Many marine larvae use natural sounds to navigate and choose their habitats, which creates challenges for conservationists trying to attract oysters to restored reefs using these natural cues.”
The study, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, highlights that marine organisms are highly susceptible to human-induced noise disturbances, affecting their ability to sense their surroundings, communicate, and find food and mates.
A special type of habitat speaker was previously used to aid oysters in relocating. However, Dominic McAfee, a member of the research team, noted that in noisy environments, these speakers did not increase larval recruitment.
Despite challenges posed by noise pollution, researchers are optimistic about using acoustic enrichment techniques in quieter areas for conservation purposes.
One potential solution to mitigate the impact on marine ecosystems is to reduce noise pollution and allow natural soundscapes to prevail.
Read more about the impact of ocean noise on baby oysters here.
