Cones
Seth F.
Cones
Seth F.
No Thumbnail Available
Search Results
Now showing
1 - 9 of 9
-
ArticleProbable signature whistle production in Atlantic white-sided (Lagenorhynchus acutus) and short-beaked common (Delphinus delphis) dolphins near Cape Cod, Massachusetts(Wiley, 2022-09-15) Cones, Seth ; Dent, Molly ; Walkes, Sam ; Bocconcelli, Alessandro ; DeWind, Christianna ; Arjasbi, Kayla ; Rose, Kathryn S. ; Silva, Tammy L. ; Sayigh, Laela S.Some delphinids produce a learned, individually specific tonal whistle that conveys identity information to conspecifics (Janik & Sayigh, 2013). These whistles, termed signature whistles, were first described by Caldwell and Caldwell (1965) and have been studied intensively over the past several decades (Janik & Sayigh, 2013). In common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and potentially other species, signature whistles facilitate many ecologically-important behaviors, including individual recognition and maintenance of group cohesion (Janik & Slater, 1998). Additionally, signature whistle contours, or patterns of frequency change over time, can remain stable for several decades, aiding in long-term social bonds (Sayigh et al., 1990). Signature whistles account for approximately 38%–70% of all whistle production in free-swimming animals (Buckstaff, 2004; Cook et al., 2004; Watwood et al., 2005); this percentage can be up to 100% for isolated individuals in captivity (Caldwell et al., 1990). Most of our knowledge on the function and use of signature whistles stems from Tursiops spp., and their use and presence in other delphinid taxa is less understood. Nonetheless, seven additional delphinid species have been reported to produce signature whistles: Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus; Gridley et al., 2014), common dolphins (D. delphis; Caldwell & Caldwell 1968; Fearey et al., 2019), Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella plagiodon; Caldwell et al., 1970), Pacific white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens; Caldwell & Caldwell, 1973), Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis; Van Parijs & Corkeron, 2001), and Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis; Duarte de Figueiredo & Simão, 2009).
-
ArticleAugmenting biologging with supervised machine learning to study in situ behavior of the medusa Chrysaora fuscescens(Company of Biologists, 2019-08-23) Fannjiang, Clara ; Mooney, T. Aran ; Cones, Seth ; Mann, David ; Shorter, K. Alex ; Katija, KakaniZooplankton play critical roles in marine ecosystems, yet their fine-scale behavior remains poorly understood because of the difficulty in studying individuals in situ. Here, we combine biologging with supervised machine learning (ML) to propose a pipeline for studying in situ behavior of larger zooplankton such as jellyfish. We deployed the ITAG, a biologging package with high-resolution motion sensors designed for soft-bodied invertebrates, on eight Chrysaora fuscescens in Monterey Bay, using the tether method for retrieval. By analyzing simultaneous video footage of the tagged jellyfish, we developed ML methods to: (1) identify periods of tag data corrupted by the tether method, which may have compromised prior research findings, and (2) classify jellyfish behaviors. Our tools yield characterizations of fine-scale jellyfish activity and orientation over long durations, and we conclude that it is essential to develop behavioral classifiers on in situ rather than laboratory data.
-
ArticleSound sensitivity of the giant scallop (Placopecten magelanicus) is life stage, intensity, and frequency dependent(Acoustical Society of America, 2023-02-13) Jézéquel, Youenn ; Cones, Seth ; Mooney, T. AranThere is increasing concern that anthropogenic sounds have a significant impact on marine animals, but there remains insufficient data on sound sensitivities for most invertebrates, despite their ecological and economic importance. We quantified auditory thresholds (in particle acceleration levels) and bandwidth of the giant scallop (Placopecten magellanicus) and subsequently sought to discern sensitivity among two different life stages: juveniles (1 yr olds) and subadults (3 yr olds). We also leveraged a novel valvometry technique to quantify the amplitude of scallop valve gape reductions when exposed to different sound amplitudes and frequencies. Behavioral responses were obtained for lower frequencies below 500 Hz, with best sensitivity at 100 Hz. There were significant differences between the auditory thresholds of juveniles and subadults, with juveniles being more sensitive, suggesting ontogenetic differences in hearing sensitivity. Scallops showed intensity and frequency dependent responses to sounds, with higher valve closures to lower frequencies and higher sound levels. To our knowledge, these are the first data highlighting life stage, intensity, and frequency responses to sound in a marine benthic invertebrate. These results demonstrate clear sound sensitivity and underscore that the potential impacts of anthropogenic sound in valuable ecological resources, such as scallops, may be dependent on sound characteristics.
-
ArticlePile driving repeatedly impacts the giant scallop (Placopecten magellanicus)(Nature Research, 2023-09-13) Jézéquel, Youenn ; Cones, Seth ; Jensen, Frants H. ; Brewer, Hannah ; Collins, John ; Mooney, T. AranLarge-scale offshore wind farms are a critical component of the worldwide climate strategy. However, their developments have been opposed by the fishing industry because of concerns regarding the impacts of pile driving vibrations during constructions on commercially important marine invertebrates, including bivalves. Using field-based daily exposure, we showed that pile driving induced repeated valve closures in different scallop life stages, with particularly stronger effects for juveniles. Scallops showed no acclimatization to repetitive pile driving across and within days, yet quickly returned to their initial behavioral baselines after vibration-cessation. While vibration sensitivity was consistent, daily pile driving did not disrupt scallop circadian rhythm, but suggests serious impacts at night when valve openings are greater. Overall, our results show distance and temporal patterns can support future mitigation strategies but also highlight concerns regarding the larger impact ranges of impending widespread offshore wind farm constructions on scallop populations.
-
ArticlePile driving noise induces transient gait disruptions in the longfin squid (Doryteuthis pealeii)(Frontiers Media, 2022-12-15) Seth F. Cones ; Youenn Jézéquel ; Sophie Ferguson ; Nadège Aoki ; T. Aran MooneyAnthropogenic noise is now a prominent pollutant increasing in both terrestrial and marine environments. In the ocean, proliferating offshore windfarms, a key renewable energy source, are a prominent noise concern, as their pile driving construction is among the most intense anthropogenic sound sources. Yet, across taxa, there is little information of pile driving noise impacts on organismal fine-scale movement despite its key link to individual fitness. Here, we experimentally quantified the swimming behavior of an abundant squid species (Doryteuthis pealeii) of vital commercial and ecological importance in response to in situ pile driving activity on multiple temporal and spatial scales (thus exposed to differing received levels, or noise-doses). Pile driving induced energetically costly alarm-jetting behaviors in most (69%) individuals at received sound levels (in zero to peak) of 112-123 dB re 1 µm s-2, levels similar to those measured at the kilometer scale from some wind farm construction areas. No responses were found at a comparison site with lower received sound levels. Persistence of swimming pattern changes during noise-induced alarm responses, a key metric addressing energetic effects, lasted up to 14 s and were significantly shorter in duration than similar movement changes caused by natural conspecific interactions. Despite observing dramatic behavioral changes in response to initial pile driving noise, there was no evidence of gait changes over an experiment day. These results demonstrate that pile driving disrupts squid fine-scale movements, but impacts are short-lived suggesting that offshore windfarm construction may minimally impact the energetics of this ecologically key taxon. However, further work is needed to assess potential behavioral and physiological impacts at higher noise levels.
-
ThesisMovement and energetics of swimming marine mollusks(Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 2024-09) Cones, Seth F. ; Mooney, T. AranMollusks constitute a significant proportion of marine animal biomass and fulfill essential ecosystem functions. Yet, our knowledge of their behavior and energy output in natural environments remains elusive. This key knowledge gap stems from our inability to quantify their positions and movements for appreciable time-scales, and thus we know extremely little about how abundant mollusks that are pervasive in all ocean biomes respond to naturally varying and anthropogenically-induced changes. In this thesis, I adapted emerging biologging sensor technology, traditionally designed for large robust vertebrates, for two key mollusk taxonomic groups (squid and scallops) to quantify and characterize movements at fine-temporal scales. In Chapter 2, I collected the first high-resolution (> 1 Hz) in situ movement data for any squid species. These novel data elucidated fundamental swimming behaviors such as swim direction, postures, and environmental extents of ecologically-vital diel vertical migration. In Chapter 3, I linked lab-calibrated bioenergetic models and field observations to map energy output and necessary caloric intake of natural behaviors in the wild. These data revealed dynamic gait use on seconds time scales. Next, in Chapters 4 and 5, I quantified the behavioral disruption and the metabolic cost of a prominent anthropogenic stressor, sound pollution. Squid and scallops elicited drastically different ecophysiological responses to field-simulated offshore windfarm construction. Squid elicited dramatic behavioral responses coinciding with the onset of construction, although animals habituated rapidly. Contrarily, scallops’ behavioral responses were moderate but consistent, and surprisingly there was no evidence of habituation across second, minutes, and daily time scales. Extended behavioral changes manifested as heightened metabolic rates and weakened antipredator responses, suggesting prolonged and potential population-level impacts on a key fishery. This thesis provides new insight in marine invertebrate movement ecology and eco-physiology, demonstrating the utility of coupling biologging and physiological experiments to reveal how key ocean animals behave and expend energy.
-
ArticleDaytime boat sound does not affect the behavior of wild thorny oysters (Spondylus americanus): A field-based study(Acoustical Society of America, 2023-08-16) Jezequel, Youenn ; Aoki, Nadège ; Cones, Seth F. ; Mooney, T. AranThere is increasing awareness of boat sound effects on coral reef assemblages. While behavioral disturbances have been found in fishes, the effects on marine invertebrates remain largely unknown. Here, the behavioral effects of recreational boat sound on thorny oysters at two coral reef habitats within the U.S. Virgin Island National Park were assessed. The “treatment” site was characterized by frequent boat traffic, which increased daytime mean particle acceleration levels (PALrms) by more than 6 dB, while mean PALrms at the “control” site were not contaminated by boat sound. Despite these contrasting soundscapes, all oysters showed the same diurnal cycle, with their valves open at night and partially closed during the day. There was no statistical evidence of behavioral responses in oysters exposed to daytime boat sound. This can be explained by low auditory sensitivity, habituation to a noisy environment due to the pervasiveness of boat sound pollution, or that boat sound may not represent an immediate concern for this species. These findings contrast with laboratory studies that have shown behavioral responses in bivalves exposed to boat sound, highlighting the need for more realistic field-based studies when evaluating potential effects of anthropogenic sounds on this group.
-
ArticleShort-term habituation of the longfin squid (Doryteuthis pealeii) to pile driving sound(Oxford University Press, 2023-10-25) Jezequel, Youenn ; Jandial, Prajna ; Cones, Seth F. ; Ferguson, Sophie R. ; Aoki, Nadège ; Girdhar, Yogesh ; Mooney, T. AranOffshore windfarms are a key renewable solution to help supply global energy needs. However, implementation has its challenges, including intense pile driving sound produced during constructions, which can affect marine life at the individual level, yet impacts at the group level remain poorly studied. Here, we exposed groups of longfin squid (Doryteuthis pealeii) in cages at multiple distances from consecutive pile driving events and sought to quantify responses at both individual and group levels. Pile driving induced short-term alarm responses at sound levels (in zero-peak) of 112–123 dB re 1 µm s−2 that were similar to those measured at kilometre scale from offshore windfarm constructions. The rate of individual alarm responses quickly decreased both within and across consecutive pile driving events, a result consistent with previous laboratory studies. Despite observing dramatic behavioural changes in response to initial pile driving sound, there were no significant differences in squid shoaling areas before and during exposure, showing no disruption of squid collective behaviours. Our results demonstrate rapid habituation of squid to pile driving sound, showing minimal effects on this ecologically and commercially key taxon. However, future work is now needed to assess responses of wild squid shoals in the vicinity of offshore windfarm constructions.
-
ArticleBioadhesive interface for marine sensors on diverse soft fragile species(Nature Research, 2024-04-16) Duque Londono, Camilo ; Cones, Seth F. ; Deng, Jue ; Wu, Jingjing ; Yuk, Hyunwoo ; Guza, David E. ; Mooney, T. Aran ; Zhao, XuanheMarine animals equipped with sensors provide vital information for understanding their ecophysiology and collect oceanographic data on climate change and for resource management. Existing methods for attaching sensors to marine animals mostly rely on invasive physical anchors, suction cups, and rigid glues. These methods can suffer from limitations, particularly for adhering to soft fragile marine species such as squid and jellyfish, including slow complex operations, unreliable fixation, tissue trauma, and behavior changes of the animals. However, soft fragile marine species constitute a significant portion of ocean biomass (>38.3 teragrams of carbon) and global commercial fisheries. Here we introduce a soft hydrogel-based bioadhesive interface for marine sensors that can provide rapid (time <22 s), robust (interfacial toughness >160 J m−2), and non-invasive adhesion on various marine animals. Reliable and rapid adhesion enables large-scale, multi-animal sensor deployments to study biomechanics, collective behaviors, interspecific interactions, and concurrent multi-species activity. These findings provide a promising method to expand a burgeoning research field of marine bio-sensing from large marine mammals and fishes to small, soft, and fragile marine animals.