Sound impacts on the behaviour of zebrafish and Lake Victoria cichlids under laboratory conditions

Human activities are increasing rapidly in terrestrial and aquatic habitats. Marine and freshwater habitats are being affected by a variety of anthropogenic pollutants. Urbanization, transportation and industrialization have continuously increased ambient sound levels with different temporal and spectral patterns. As an environmental pollutant, anthropogenic sound is ubiquitous in, on and near aquatic habitats and potentially may have detrimental effects on aquatic animals at the individual and community level. Over the past few decades, public attention, activities in the field of conservation and animal welfare by non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and scientific exploration are raising awareness of the potential effects of sounds on marine mammals and fish species. Here, in a set of continuum studies, I review the impacts of experimental sound exposure on the behaviour (swimming distribution and foraging behaviour) of zebrafish and comparative sound-related behavioural responses of two fish species with different hearing abilities under laboratory conditions. However, further laboratory and field studies are needed to show the potential impacts of anthropogenic sounds on the behaviour of fishes.