Evaluating the Effects of Increased Anthropogenic Noise on the Reproductive Success of Poecilia reticulata

Abstract

Noise pollution, or more specifically, increased anthropogenic noise, in aquatic ecosystems has been increasing as humanity progresses in size and innovation. Very little research has been conducted to investigate the effects of noise pollution on the biotic factors in these ecosystems, but the research that has been conducted has produced results that vary extensively, with some alluding to no noticeable effects, and others indicating fatality upon or after exposure. The lack of cohesiveness in these findings are what prompted the purpose of this research paper: to evaluate the effects, if any, of increased anthropogenic noise (IAN) on the reproductive success of guppies, or Poecilia reticulata. For the purposes of this experiment, reproductive success is defined as the number of offspring produced by a female guppy.

To do so, two tanks were set up with ensured controls; one was constantly exposed to increased anthropogenic noise in the form of two different recordings merged together, each played at random intervals; the other was not. Each tank had a camera placed in front of it to record the happenings of the tank. Data was collected for a month, the time it takes for one full gestation cycle (Yang, 2021). At the end of the gestation period, data was evaluated in order to determine results and conclusions.

At the end of the experiment, the tank that was not exposed to IAN produced offspring, while the tank that was exposed to IAN did not. This result supported the initial hypothesis that IAN can negatively affect the reproductive success of guppies.