By revealing the detrimental impacts of acute and chronic noise on host–parasite interactions, we add to the growing body of evidence demonstrating a link between noise pollution and reduced animal health. However, these hosts died significantly earlier compared with those exposed to acute and no noise treatments.

By contrast, fish experiencing chronic noise had the lowest parasite burden. Hosts experiencing acute noise suffered significantly increased parasite burden compared with those in no noise treatments. Here, we investigated the impact of acute and chronic noise on vertebrate susceptibility to parasitic infections, using a model host–parasite system (guppy– Gyrodactylus turnbulli). Therefore, understanding how a pervasive stressor is impacting host–parasite interactions will have far-reaching implications for global animal health. Parasites that cause transmissible disease are key drivers of ecosystem biodiversity and a significant factor limiting the sustainable expansion of the animal trade. But, the functional effects of this impacted immunity on disease resistance due to noise exposure have remained neglected. In fish, however, noise pollution can lead to stress, hearing loss, behavioural changes and impacted immunity. Equivalent research on aquatic organisms has until recently been stunted by the misnomer of a silent underwater world. Detrimental impacts of noise pollution on physiology, immunology and behaviour have been shown in terrestrial vertebrates and invertebrates.

Anthropogenic noise is a pervasive global pollutant that has been detected in every major habitat on the planet.

Noise Pollution Powerpoint