Fear for mussels that get ‘stressed’ by noisy ships
MUSSELS are suffering from stress as a result of underwater noise from ships, research suggests.
Scientists said that while this was not “immediately dangerous” for the molluscs, it could affect their growth.
It may also explain the decline in mussel banks in some parts of the UK.
A team of marine scientists from Napier and Heriot-Watt universities, in Edinburgh, collected mussels from the shore at Musselburgh and tested their response to noise at the St Abbs Marine Station, near Eyemouth.
Karen Diele, from Edinburgh Napier University, said: “Mussels don’t have ears but they can detect changing sound levels in their environment.
“We played the sound of a ship’s motor to a sample of blue mussels in a controlled setting, and measured biochemical and behavioural changes.
“For the first time in a marine species, we detected noiseinduced changes in DNA integrity, indicating an underlying source of stress.”
Matt Wale, from the same university, told how the mussels exposed to noise also consumed 12 per cent less oxygen, which would lead to increased energy use and potentially slower growth.
Mark Hartl from Heriot-Watt University, added: “The impact of noise does not appear to be fatal or immediately dangerous for mussels. However, this doesn’t mean it isn’t having a long-term effect on mussel populations in high noise areas.
“It could be affecting their growth, reproductivity and may help explain the decline of mussel banks in some areas of the UK.”