THE SOUND OF SILENCE; ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF SOLAR POWERED PUMP-OUT BOATS IN BRANFORD HARBORS

Sound pollution from boat motors is known to affect whales, crabs, and eels  behavior  and the physiology of fish embryos.  Alleviating sound pollution is one management strategy that can affect marine environments positively.  Recently, a solar -electric  powered  pump-out boat was developed t hat produces less sound and has a lower carbon footprint.  This study will compare motors by examining the differences in motor noise using a hydrophone and examine the effects of  these motors' noise on fish behavior and physiological (heart rate) responses in local blue and ribbed mussels.    

Pollution has been known to affect all species and is commonly defined as the presence in or introduction into the environment of a substance or thing that has harmful or poisonous effects.  We often see, smell, and can taste pollution and these abilities has shaped our definitions.  The concept of 'hearing' pollution remains different as we often accept 'noise' as a  life consequence.

The impact of sound pollution has been documented to affect mammals, fish and invertebrate species whenever it has been examined (Simmonds et al 2014; Merchant et al 2015).  Weilgart (2007) documented the observed effects and responses to noise in marine mammals and found that effects of noise can range from mild responses (change in vocalizations, respiration, swim speed and foraging behavior) to lethal consequences (population displacement, elimination of population members and decreased reproduction). In fish, noise has been documented to increase the heart rate of juveniles (Jain-Schlaepfer 2018) and in invertebrates, noise has been documented to increase the heart rates of mussels, and increase shelter seeking and decrease the foraging time in Carcinus maenus (Williams et al 2015). Compared to other types of 'pollution' sound pollution has been little studied, yet has been documented to have negative effects on marine communities.