In situ behavioral responses of crustacean zooplankton to an approaching seismic survey.

ABSTRACT: The impacts of underwater noise from seismic surveys on zooplankton remain poorly understood despite their critical ecological role. This study investigated the effects of in situ airgun shots on the swimming behavior of the copepod Calanus finmarchicus at distances from over 4000 to less than 100 m from the seismic airgun array (3060 in³, 50.1 L). Copepods were deployed in a cage equipped with a stereo camera system to track individual swimming behavior. Our findings reveal significant changes in swimming speeds and speed-based behavioral classifications: Swimming, Sinking, and Jumping. During airgun exposure, the swimming speed increased significantly, displaying a quadratic relationship around an airgun shot. More copepods jumped, with higher relative jumping counts per indiv

SUBMITTER: Kuhn S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12518601 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature