Boat Noise Increases the Oxygen Consumption Rate of the Captive Juvenile Large Yellow Croaker, Larimichthys crocea

Anthropogenic noise pollution is increasingly acknowledged as a major threat to marine ecosystems, especially for sound-sensitive species, such as the large yellow croaker (<i>Larimichthys crocea</i>). While the effects of underwater noise on fish behavior and physiology have been well-documented, its influence on oxygen metabolism across varying temperatures remains poorly understood. This study examines the impact of boat noise on the oxygen consumption rate (OCR) of juvenile large yellow croakers at different temperatures, a key factor in their metabolic activity. The underwater noise generated by a fishing boat spans a broad frequency range, with a peak spectrum level of 130 dB re 1 µPa at low frequencies between 100 and 200 Hz. Our findings reveal that boat noise significantly elevates the OCR of juvenile fish, with mass-specific OCR increasing by 65.0%, 35.3%, and 28.9% at 18 °C, 25 °C, and 30 °C, respectively. Similarly, individual OCR rose by 60.7%, 35.3%, and 17.1% at these temperatures. These results demonstrate that boat noise triggers a stress response in fish, resulting in heightened metabolic demands across different seasonal conditions. Notably, the impact of boat noise on respiratory metabolism is most significant at lower temperatures. In aquatic environments with stable oxygen levels, the noise-induced rise in oxygen consumption could lead to hypoxia and provoke maladaptive behavioral changes in fish.