Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e del Mare, Università di Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
PLoS One. 2012;7(7):e40582. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0040582. Epub 2012 Jul 11.
Chromis chromis is a key species in the Mediterranean marine coastal ecosystems where, in summer, recreational boating and its associated noise overlap. Anthropogenic noise could induce behavioural modifications in marine organisms, thereby affecting population dynamics. In the case of an important species for the ecosystem like C. chromis, this could rebound on the community structure. Here, we measured nautical traffic during the summer of 2007 in a Southern Mediterranean Marine Protected Area (MPA) and simultaneously the feeding behaviour of C. chromis was video-recorded, within both the no-take A-zone and the B-zone where recreational use is allowed. Feeding frequencies, escape reaction and school density were analysed. C. chromis specimens were also collected from 2007 to 2008 to evaluate their physiological state using the Body Condition Index as a proxy of feeding efficiency. The MPA was more exploited by nautical tourism during holidays than on weekdays, particularly in the middle of the day. Greater traffic volume corresponded with lower feeding frequencies. The escape reaction was longer in duration (>1 min) when boat passed nearby, while moored boats did not induce an escape response. We found no differences in density between schools in the A- and B-zones and worse body conditions among those individuals inhabiting the B-zone in one area only. Overall, our findings revealed a significant modification of the daily foraging habits of C. chromis due to boat noise, which was slightly buffered by no-take zones established within the MPA.
拟雀鲷是地中海沿海海洋生态系统中的关键物种，在夏季，休闲划船及其相关噪音会重叠。人为噪声会导致海洋生物行为发生改变，从而影响种群动态。对于像拟雀鲷这样对生态系统很重要的物种，这可能会对群落结构产生反拨作用。在这里，我们在 2007 年夏季测量了南地中海海洋保护区（MPA）内的航海交通量，并同时记录了拟雀鲷的摄食行为，记录范围包括禁止休闲船只进入的 A 区和允许休闲船只进入的 B 区。我们分析了摄食频率、逃避反应和鱼群密度。我们还从 2007 年到 2008 年收集了拟雀鲷标本，使用身体状况指数（BCI）作为摄食效率的替代指标来评估它们的生理状况。MPA 在假期期间比工作日更受航海旅游的开发利用，尤其是在中午时分。更大的交通量与更低的摄食频率相对应。当船只经过附近时，逃避反应持续时间更长（>1 分钟），而停泊的船只不会引起逃避反应。我们没有发现 A 区和 B 区的鱼群密度有差异，而且仅在一个区域，栖息在 B 区的个体的身体状况更差。总体而言，我们的研究结果表明，由于船只噪音，拟雀鲷的日常觅食习惯发生了显著变化，而 MPA 内设立的禁捕区略微缓冲了这种变化。
