Assessing disturbance from under-ice noise on fishes in boreal lakes

There are many potential sources of anthropogenic noise that can manifest under ice in boreal lakes that are within the hearing ranges of northern boreal fishes. Impacts of noise on fish can be correlated to the fish's hearing sensitivity. In general, boreal fishes have most sensitive hearing <400 Hz,but this varies by species and life stage. By assessing the hearing capabilities and vocalizations of fish species and sound signatures from development activities, it may be possible to forecast potential impacts resulting from expected under-ice noise exposure.There is still the need for basic information to facilitate the assessment and identification of potential impacts (e.g., the hearing capabilities of many species of boreal fishes at different life stages and the sound signatures of various anthropogenic noise sources). Additionally, the impacts to fish from a particular noise source (e.g., pile driving) or the potential for a sound-related disturbance ata particular time in a species life history, such as courtship or spawning, warrants further study.