Papers by Linda Sebastianutto
We live in a noisy world. There is no place on the Earth where it is possible to have the experie... more We live in a noisy world. There is no place on the Earth where it is possible to have the experience of complete silence, not even the deepest place in the ocean. Billions of living and nonliving objects around us produce sounds, which are extremely different in their physical structure. Some of these sounds are noisy, some are harmonic, some are continuous, others are impulsive, soft, loud; the sound environment contains an infinite combination of all these characteristics and more. Evolving in such an environment has resulted in a human auditory system that is able to extract useful information from sounds. We are able to say whether a sound source is still or moving (and in the latter case, the direction of movement), what kind of object produced the sound, and the meaning of the message if the perceived sound is an intentional communicative signal. When we hear someone\u2019s voice, for instance, we are able to extract useful information about talker identity apart from the mean...
The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), formally adopted by the European Union in July 20... more The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), formally adopted by the European Union in July 2008, outlines 11 high level descriptors of Good Environmental Status (GES); descriptor 11 requires "monitoring the introduction of energy, including underwater noise” into the marine environment. A 3-year study monitoring sea ambient noise (SAN) (2007–2009) was carried out in the Cres–Lošinj archipelago, where local dolphin and fish communities are threatened by unregulated mass tourism and coastal construction. The survey was run monthly on ten predefined acoustic stations, grouped into three areas of different anthropogenic impact. A total of 418 five minute SAN samples (frequency range: 25 - 40000 Hz) were collected and analyzed. In the light of Indicator 11.2.1 of the MSFD “Continuous low frequency sound”, the 1/3 octave bands of 63 Hz and 125 Hz (re 1uPa RMS) were considered. During recordings the presence of leisure boats within 2 km of the sampling station and the bottlenose d...
Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 2012
A growing body of scientific evidence shows that the increasing noise pollution in coastal enviro... more A growing body of scientific evidence shows that the increasing noise pollution in coastal environments due to human activities has detrimental effects on marine animals, including many endangered species. As a consequence, research studies and subsequent conservational actions are needed to mitigate the effects of noise pollution. One important step is to safeguard sensitive areas known as marine protected areas (MPAs) from anthropogenic noise; these ecologically rich areas, critical habitats for key species, are often located in highly populated coastal zones. This is the case of the WWF-Miramare Natural Marine Reserve, a UNESCO-Man and Biosphere Programme (MAB) Biosphere Reserve located in the Gulf of Trieste (Italy) and considered an important seasonal nursery area in the North Adriatic Sea (Guidetti et al. 2005). Although a recent study (Codarin et al. 2008), based on daytime acoustic monitoring, shows that the Miramare fish population is living in a heavily noisy underwater environment year-round, relatively little is known about the features and anthropogenic factors of nocturnal sea ambient noise (SAN) in the Reserve. This information is particularly relevant considering that intraspecific communication of many marine species (i.e., the brown meager, Sciaena umbra, during spawning season; Bonacito et al. 2001) occurs after sunset and during night. As a consequence, the present study aims 1) to quantify the nocturnal ambient noise levels at the Reserve, 2) to distinguish and quantify the biological versus anthropogenic components of the noise, and 3) to discuss their possible interaction.
A novel hydrophonic probe ("Soundfish") placed inside the WWF-Natural Marine Reserve of Miramare ... more A novel hydrophonic probe ("Soundfish") placed inside the WWF-Natural Marine Reserve of Miramare (Trieste, Italy) allowed for characterization of the underwater acoustic background noise, and the noise produced by a small outboard-engine boat moving at 6 knots not just in terms of sound pressure, but also of the three Cartesian components of the particle velocity.
Bioacoustics, 2013
ABSTRACT Calls emitted by the brown meagre Sciaena umbra (L., fam. Sciaenidae) were recorded at t... more ABSTRACT Calls emitted by the brown meagre Sciaena umbra (L., fam. Sciaenidae) were recorded at the Natural Marine Reserve of Miramare (Trieste, Italy) in seven nocturnal surveys (12-h continuous sampling) during the summer of 2009. Calls consist of pulses, with the main energy content below 2 kHz and mean peak frequency of c. 270 Hz. Pulses were short, with an average duration of 20 ms and a pulse period of 100 ms. Sounds lasted approximately 500 ms. Three types of sound patterns were recognized: irregular (I), regular (R) and the chorus (C). Their acoustic parameters are described showing that I, R and C differ in pulse duration, pulse peak frequency and pulse period. Occurrence of the three call types changes throughout the night: the R pattern occurred mainly at dawn and dusk, C predominated after nightfall, while I calls were produced sporadically during the whole nocturnal period. Our results indicate that S. umbra has a pronounced nocturnal rhythm in vocalizing behaviour and highlight how the diagnostic time–frequency pattern of S. umbra calls can be used to identify the species in the field. Considering that the abundance of S. umbra is currently declining, the information presented here will be relevant in developing non-invasive and low-cost monitoring acoustic systems for managing S. umbra conservation and fishery along the Mediterranean Sea.
Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2013
The waters of the Cres-Lošinj archipelago are subject to intense boat traffic related to the high... more The waters of the Cres-Lošinj archipelago are subject to intense boat traffic related to the high number of leisure boats frequenting this area during the summer tourist season. Boat noise dominates the acoustic environment of the local bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) population. This study investigates the spatial and temporal change in the underwater noise levels due to intense boating, and its effect on the distribution of the bottlenose dolphins. In the period 2007-2009 sea ambient noise (SAN) was sampled across ten acoustic stations. During data collection the presence of leisure boats was recorded if they were within 2 km of the sampling station. Bottlenose dolphin spatial distribution was monitored in the same period. Results showed a strong positive correlation between high SAN levels and boat presence, particularly in the tourist season. Dolphin distribution indicated significant seasonal displacements from noisy areas characterized by the intense leisure boating.
The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 2012
This study investigated whether or not boat noise causes variations in brown meagre (Sciaena umbr... more This study investigated whether or not boat noise causes variations in brown meagre (Sciaena umbra) vocalizations recorded in a nearshore Mediterranean marine reserve. Six nocturnal experimental sessions were carried out from June to September 2009. In each of them, a recreational boat passed over vocalizing fish 6 times with 1 boat passage every 10 min. For this purpose three different boats were used in random order: an 8.5-m cabin-cruiser (CC), a 5-m fiberglass boat (FB), and a 7-m inflatable boat (INF). In situ continuous acoustic recordings were collected using a self-standing sonobuoy. Because boat noise levels largely exceeded both background noise and S. umbra vocalizations in the species' hearing frequency range, masking of acoustic communication was assumed. Although no immediate effect was observed during a single boat passage, the S. umbra mean pulse rate increased over multiple boat passages in the experimental condition but not in the control condition, excluding that the observed effect was due to a natural rise in fish vocalizations. The observed vocal enhancement may result either from an increased density of callers or from an increased number of pulses/sounds produced by already acoustically active individuals, as a form of vocal compensation. These two explanations are discussed.
Acta Psychologica, 2017
Imitation can be realized via two different routes: a direct route that translates visual input i... more Imitation can be realized via two different routes: a direct route that translates visual input into motor output when gestures are meaningless or unknown, and a semantic route for known/meaningful gestures. Young infants show imitative behaviours compatible with the direct route, but little is known about the development of the semantic route, studied here for the first time. The present study examined preschool children (3-5years of age) imitating gestures that could be transitive or intransitive, and meaningful or meaningless. Both routes for imitation were already present by three years of age, and children were more accurate at imitating meaningful-intransitive gestures than meaningless-intransitive ones; the reverse pattern was found for transitive gestures. Children preferred to use their dominant hand even if they had to anatomically imitate the model to do this, showing that a preference for specular imitation is not exclusive at these ages.
Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 2016
Aquatic noise pollution is largely ignored by the lay public. How experts communicate this issue ... more Aquatic noise pollution is largely ignored by the lay public. How experts communicate this issue is critical to move public opinion. In 2010, the Cassa di Risparmio di Gorizia (CaRiGO) bank sponsored the Deaf as a Fish project that included local underwater noise monitoring, a boat census, a pamphlet for nonexperts, and some seminars and public meetings. This project allowed us to raise interest in this issue. Using accurate and understandable language in a light-humored setting goes far toward cultivating trust from a public audience that can be intimidated or suspicious of complicated scientific messaging.
Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 2016
A 3-years sea ambient-noise (SAN) monitoring was carried out in the Cres-Lošinj Archipelago (Croa... more A 3-years sea ambient-noise (SAN) monitoring was carried out in the Cres-Lošinj Archipelago (Croatia), where a bottlenose dolphin population is threatened by unregulated nautical tourism. A total of 540 5-min SAN samples were collected and analyzed in an Indicator 11.2.1 (Marine Strategy Framework Directive) perspective. The 1/3-octave band center frequencies of 63 and 125 Hz (re 1 μPa.rms) proved to be predictive of local predominant ship type over time. However, the noisiest band level was centered on 200 Hz. We therefore suggest measuring a wider frequency band than those requested in Indicator 11.2.1.
The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), formally adopted by the European Union in July 20... more The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), formally adopted by the European Union in July 2008, outlines 11 high level descriptors of Good Environmental Status (GES); descriptor 11 requires "monitoring the introduction of energy, including underwater noise” into the marine environment. A 3-year study monitoring sea ambient noise (SAN) (2007–2009) was carried out in the Cres–Lošinj archipelago, where local dolphin and fish communities are threatened by unregulated mass tourism and coastal construction. The survey was run monthly on ten predefined acoustic stations, grouped into three areas of different anthropogenic impact. A total of 418 five minute SAN samples (frequency range: 25 - 40000 Hz) were collected and analyzed. In the light of Indicator 11.2.1 of the MSFD “Continuous low frequency sound”, the 1/3 octave bands of 63 Hz and 125 Hz (re 1uPa RMS) were considered. During recordings the presence of leisure boats within 2 km of the sampling station and the bottlenose d...
We present a detailed description of the territorial behaviour of G. cruentatus. We staged simula... more We present a detailed description of the territorial behaviour of G. cruentatus. We staged simulated intrusions in a captive setting to overcome the inherent difficulty of observing these interactions in the field. An 'intruder' was introduced in an experimental arena containing a 'resident' male. The response of the resident was video-taped and audiorecorded. The tested animals (two groups of 5 animals each) played in turn both the resident and the intruder roles. A total of 40 territorial interactions were recorded. Twenty-six behavioural units (BU) were identified and described according to their physical and functional interpretations; average duration and frequency of occurrence of each BU were reported. During the contests, resident fish mainly produced sounds. According to the 'bourgeois strategy', contests were settled in a maximum of 10 min, with the owner of the territory usually resulting the winner. Differences in body size seemed not to influence the contest outcome, whereas resource value did.
The waters of the Cres–Lošinj archipelago are subject to intense boat traffic related to the high... more The waters of the Cres–Lošinj archipelago are subject to intense boat traffic related to the high number of leisure boats frequenting this area during the summer tourist season. Boat noise dominates the acoustic environment of the local bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) population. This study investigates the spatial and temporal change in the underwater noise levels due to intense boating, and its effect on the distribution of the bottlenose dolphins. In the period 2007–2009 sea ambient noise (SAN) was sampled across ten acoustic stations. During data collection the presence of leisure boats was recorded if they were within 2 km of the sampling station. Bottlenose dolphin spatial distribution was monitored in the same period. Results showed a strong positive correlation between high SAN levels and boat presence, particularly in the tourist season. Dolphin distribution indicated significant seasonal displacements from noisy areas characterized by the intense leisure boating.► Leisure boating is the major source of anthropogenic noise in the sea. ► Leisure boating noise affects dolphin distribution in the study area. ► Dolphin displacements are reported during the season of highest boat presence. ► Highest sea ambient noise levels characterizes areas of the most intense boating. ► Reduced dolphin presence characterizes area of highest sea ambient noise.
Calls emitted by the brown meagre Sciaena umbra (L., fam. Sciaenidae) were recorded at the Natura... more Calls emitted by the brown meagre Sciaena umbra (L., fam. Sciaenidae) were recorded at the Natural Marine Reserve of Miramare (Trieste, Italy) in seven nocturnal surveys (12-h continuous sampling) during the summer of 2009. Calls consist of pulses, with the main energy content below 2 kHz and mean peak frequency of c. 270 Hz. Pulses were short, with an average duration of 20 ms and a pulse period of 100 ms. Sounds lasted approximately 500 ms. Three types of sound patterns were recognized: irregular (I), regular (R) and the chorus (C). Their acoustic parameters are described showing that I, R and C differ in pulse duration, pulse peak frequency and pulse period. Occurrence of the three call types changes throughout the night: the R pattern occurred mainly at dawn and dusk, C predominated after nightfall, while I calls were produced sporadically during the whole nocturnal period. Our results indicate that S. umbra has a pronounced nocturnal rhythm in vocalizing behaviour and highlight how the diagnostic time–frequency pattern of S. umbra calls can be used to identify the species in the field. Considering that the abundance of S. umbra is currently declining, the information presented here will be relevant in developing non-invasive and low-cost monitoring acoustic systems for managing S. umbra conservation and fishery along the Mediterranean Sea.
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Papers by Linda Sebastianutto