INFLUENCE OF WIND-PRODUCED NOISE ON ORIENTATION IN THE SOLE (SOLEA-SOLEA)

Sole (Solea solea), telemetered in an enclosure using an acoustic posi tioning system, changed their swimming trajectories and orientation be haviour as a function of wind strength and direction. Monitoring of th e spatial variation in both wind-generated currents and noise spectra in the enclosure indicates that these behavioural changes correspond t o patterns in the spatial distribution of noise and to sound intensity . Thus, our observations indicate that sole perceives and reacts to ho rizontal variability in ambient noise levels. Such behaviour may be im portant in determining movements of fish populations at sea during poo r weather conditions.