Ananda Teles, Alfredo Borie, Hugo Santos, Paulo Travassos
Abstract This study aimed to record, analyze, and characterize the sound emissions of two lobster species from the Palinuridae family: the red lobster ( Panulirus meripurpuratus ) and the green lobster ( Panulirus laevicauda ). Four specimens were collected through scuba diving at depths ranging from 15 to 25 m on the continental shelf near Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, using a hook stick. Acoustic recordings were conducted under controlled conditions at the Marine Ecology and Aquaculture Technology Laboratories (Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, UFRPE) and in the natural environment off Paiva Beach, located in Cabo de Santo Agostinho municipality, Pernambuco State, northeastern Brazil. A total of 274 sound emissions were analyzed. Individual characterization of each call was performed using the following acoustic parameters: number of pulses per sound emissions (n), sound emissions duration (ms), peak frequency (kHz), low-frequency limit (kHz), and high-frequency limit (kHz). Acoustic units were extracted and analyzed using Raven Pro 1.4 software. Results revealed variations in frequency emissions under stress and normal conditions. Red lobsters exhibited a 29 kHz increase in sound frequency during stress, while green lobsters showed an 18 kHz increase. Red lobsters responded more intensely to the presence of a potential predator, producing more pulses per minute compared to green lobsters. Sound emissions, specifically low-frequency values, sound emissions duration, and pulse number, differed significantly between species, whereas peak and high-frequency values were statistically similar. This study highlights species-specific acoustic differences and their potential ecological and behavioral implications.