Response to an anthropogenic acoustic stimulus in the terrestrial isopod Porcellio laevis Latreille, 1804 (Isopoda: Oniscidea: Porcellionidae)

Anthropogenic acoustic pollution has an impact on the physiology of many organisms. Such pollution can have an effect on the encoding and decoding communication, which could cause disruptions in fragile ecosystems. A constant source of anthropogenic acoustic pollution could modify the physiology that allows species to interact with the environment or by triggering an inappropriate behavioural response. The behavioural alteration of a terrestrial isopod, Porcellio laevis Latreille, 1804, when exposed to acoustic pollution was studied. The control group was not exposed to acoustic sweeps, whereas the test group was exposed to a sinusoidal sweep (50–400 Hz) of one second looped to last one full minute. A camera was used to record the behaviour and the software TRex was used to analyze the isopods’ paths and collect speed information. Their distribution in regards to the source of the acoustic stimulus was analyzed, their overall motility (in cm) and their speed (in cm s$^{–1}$) were compared. The results of a dependent t-test and two independent t-tests suggest that when exposed to the stimulus, the isopods tried to avoid the acoustic stimulus and walk less distances, but without changes in speed.