2017/04/01 by Erin P. Walsh, Gareth Arnott, Hansjoerg P. Kunc · 1 citation
Environmental Science · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Marine animal studies overview #Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior #Marine and fisheries research #Hermit crab #Biology #Resource (disambiguation) #Noise (video) #Noise pollution #Selection (genetic algorithm) #Invertebrate #Ecology #Anomura #Crustacean #Decapoda #Computer science #Machine learning #Noise reduction #Artificial intelligence
paper · pdf · doi:10.1098/rsbl.2017.0098
openalex publication_date 2017/04/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
Anthropogenic noise is a global pollutant, affecting animals across taxa. However, how noise pollution affects resource acquisition is unknown. Hermit crabs ( Pagurus bernhardus ) engage in detailed assessment and decision-making when selecting a critical resource, their shell; this is crucial as individuals in poor shells suffer lower reproductive success and higher mortality. We experimentally exposed hermit crabs to anthropogenic noise during shell selection. When exposed to noise, crabs approached the shell faster, spent less time investigating it, and entered it faster. Our results demonstrate that changes in the acoustic environment affect the behaviour of hermit crabs by modifying the selection process of a vital resource. This is all the more remarkable given that the known cues used in shell selection involve chemical, visual and tactile sensory channels. Thus, our study provides rare evidence for a cross-modal impact of noise pollution.