The Effect of Pile Driving at the New NY Bridge on the Swim Bladder of Fish Chloe Hutchins

Vocabulary Anthropogenic Noise: Man-made noise pollution. Oscillation: Rapid movement or vibration. The Maximum Peak Sound Pressure Level (SPL): the loudest sound level over a period of time.

Introduction The increasing amount of noise pollution from anthropogenic sounds in the oceans and other bodies of water is a growing problem. These sounds include: Pile driving Navy sonar Vessel noise

Introduction The swim bladder is a gas-filled sac present in fish, which is used to maintain and control buoyancy.

Review of Literature Mueller-Blenkle, C., McGregor, P.K., Gill, A.B., Andersson, M.H., Metcalfe, J., Bendall, V., Sigray, P., Wood, D.T. & Thomsen, F. (2010) Effects of Pile-driving Noise on the Behaviour of Marine Fish. COWRIE Ref: Fish 06-08, Technical Report. 31st March 2010. Pile driving has been found to kill or injure fish in the close vicinity.

Review of Literature Casper B. M., Popper A. N., Matthews F., Carlson T. J., Halvorsen M. B. 2012 Recovery of barotrauma injuries in Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha from exposure to pile driving sound. PLoS ONE 7, e39593. The presence and type of swim bladder was found to alter the frequency and occurrence of injuries expressed by fish after exposure to high sound levels.

Review of Literature Halvorsen MB, Casper BM, Matthews F, Carlson TJ, Popper AN. 2012. Effects of exposure to pile-driving sounds on the lake sturgeon, Nile tilapia and hogchoker. Proc Biol Sci. 279:4705–4714. High sound levels cause the swim bladder to shake rapidly, damaging the swim bladder itself and any nearby tissues.

Purpose This study looked into the impact of presence of and type of swim on the damage to the gel beads after exposure to underwater pile driving sounds.

Methodology The ‘fish models’ were exposed to pile driving The damage to the ‘fish models’ was analyzed The gel beads were made The ‘fish models’ were exposed to pile driving The ‘fish models’ were made The sound levels were measured A statistical analysis was conducted

Methodology- Making the Gel Beads A 2.0% sodium alginate solution was made by adding 10g of sodium alginate to 500mL of water. The mixture was blended for 30 seconds and food coloring was added. A 0.50% calcium chloride solution was made by adding 5g of calcium chloride to 1000mL of water.

Methodology- Making the Gel Beads The sodium alginate solution was dripped into the calcium chloride solution, creating the gel beads.

Methodology- Making the ‘Fish Models’ The ‘fish models’ were made up of: Rubber gloves Balloons Gel beads

Methodology- Making the ‘Fish Models’ There were four types of “swim bladders tested”: Small with air Small with water Large with air Large with water

Methodology- Making the ‘Fish Models’ The balloons were filled with either air or water. They were put in the rubber gloves and then were surrounded by a layer of the gel beads. Then the rubber gloves were tied closed and attached to the lines in a varied order.

Methodology- Measuring the Sound Levels The noise data for the piles near lines 1 and 2 were recorded while they were exposed to the pile driving. A Larson Davis model 831 integrated sound level meter and Reson model TC 4033 hydrophone were used to measure sound levels.

Methodology- Analyzing the Damage Pictures were taken of the gel beads before and after exposure to the pile driving in order to determine the amount of damage that occurred.

Methodology- Statistical Analysis A chi squared analysis and an odds ratio were calculate based on the results of the experiment. The chi squared analysis was performed using excel The odds ratio was calculated using a statistical software from MedCalc

Results- Sound Levels The Maximum Peak SPL recorded for line 1 was 197.3 dB. The Maximum Peak SPL recorded for line 2 was 194.0 dB. The sound levels for Line 3, which was the control, were not recorded.

Results- Line 1 Type Damage to Beads Damage to "Bladder" 1 2 3 1 2 3 Ruptured Not Ruptured SA1   NR SA2 SA3 SW1 SW2 SW3 LA1 LA2 LA3 LW1 R LW2 LW3

Results- Line 2 Type Damage to Beads Damage to "Bladder" 1 2 3 1 2 3 Ruptured Not Ruptured SA1   NR SA2 SA3 SW1 SW2 SW3 LA1 LA2 LA3 LW1 R LW2 LW3

Results- Line 3 (Control) Type Damage to Beads Damage to "Bladder" 1 2 3 Ruptured Not Ruptured SA1   NR SA2 SA3 SW1 SW2 SW3 LA1 LA2 LA3 LW1 LW2 LW3

Results- Damage to Gel Beads

Results- Damage to Swim Bladders

Results- Chi Squared Test   Expected Observed Row Labels Damage No Damage Exposed 5.333 18.667 8 16 Control 2.667 9.333 12 *P Value 0.0233

Results- Odds Ratio Odds Ratio 12.988 P Value 0.089 95% CI .677 to 244.929

Conclusion This experiment tested how the size and presence of a swim bladder would affect the damage that occurred to fish during pile driving activities. Air swim bladders were found to have more damage to the gel beads regardless of their size. Large swim bladders ruptured more than small swim bladders, but water swim bladders ruptured more than air swim bladders.

Discussion The control experienced significantly less damage than the experimental groups. Distance from pile driving Only ‘fish models’ with water swim bladders ruptured. They were more full and therefore more likely to pop.

Discussion Future studies should definitely focus on ways of improving these ‘fish models’ so that they can more accurately represent fish. Changing the composition of the solutions used to make the gel beads. Find other possible materials that could be used to make the ‘fish models’.

Discussion This study is a novel way of analyzing the impacts of the pile driving noise without harming actual wildlife.

The Effect of Pile Driving at the New NY Bridge on the Swim Bladder of Fish Chloe Hutchins