If you have followed the blog for some time, you have probably seen my posts about anthropogenic noise and fish. Specifically, I have an interest in both the short-term and long-term effects of noise generated by filters, pumps, etc.
All cichlid breeders (and many hobbyists) utilize some type of filtration in their tanks. These can be mechanical, such as a canister or HoB filters (commonly referred to as power filters), or the more frequently used air driven sponge filters. Regardless, filters introduce a consistent and constant source of noise into the aquarium. Are there deleterious effects? Maybe.
I recently came upon a study that examined the effects of boat noise on juvenile Maylandia zebra, a very popular mbuna cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi. The study was not in situ, meaning it wasn’t conducted in the lake, but rather in a conrolled setting (i.e., inside various tanks). How did the investigators test for boat noise in fish tanks? They used recordings of actual boat noise.
In the past, I have written outside the blog about the effects of anthropogenic noise on marine mammals, specifically cetaceans (whales, porpoises). Thus, this recent study resonated with me because it involved cichlids. What did the study conclude? That prolonged boat noise negatively affects juvenile M. zebra by acting as a chronic stressor. Their results showed that the noise significantly altered “…the boldness, anxiety and learning ability” of the juveniles.
The study, titled “Chronic boat noise exposure elevates boldness and anxiety-like behavior, while impairing learning in juvenile cichlids Maylandia zebra,” can be found here. There are numerous published studies available about this subjuect, if this is something that interests you.
In fact, there are also numerous books that explore this space. A more recent one is The Effects of Noise on Aquatic Live IV. This book is open access, so each chapter is available individually. For additional scholarly resources, I would encourage you to search Google Scholar.