Shipping noise affecting immune responses of European spiny lobster (Palinurus elephas)

Abstract

Marine crustaceans are influenced by numerous environmental factors. Environmental stress from pollutants seems to affect their metabolism, growth, moulting, survival, and immune defence. Recently, it has become clear that there is an impact of the global increase in sea noise levels due to shipping traffic on crustacean welfare. Considering the ecological and commercial importance of the European spiny lobster (Palinurus elephas (Fabricius, 1787)) in most parts of the Mediterranean coastal area, in the present study we investigated whether shipping noise pollution contribute to changing the immune parameters of stress in the European spiny lobster. The animals were exposed to a mix of noises produced by different typologies of the boat played back in a tank, and the values of cellular and humeral parameters were evaluated. Total haemocyte count (THC), haemolymphatic protein concentration, phenoloxidase (PO) activity in cell-free haemolymph, and heat shock protein 27 (Hsp27) expression in haemocyte lysate were considered potential biomarkers of stress. THC and PO activity decreased significantly, whereas total protein and Hsp27 expression increased significantly. Overall, the results demonstrate that the stressful conditions investigated in this study affect both cellular and biochemical parameters in the European spiny lobster.