PIF2024 - Dynamic landscapes of fear in response to underwater human presence "HumanFear" (PID2023-146460NA-I00)

The "HumanFear" project investigates the impact of human presence on wild animals, focusing on fish behavior in marine environments. Fear is a key factor in animal behavior, especially in predator-prey interactions. Understanding how animals respond to fear, particularly in human-dominated settings, has important implications for both basic and applied sciences. The project examines how fish adjust their behavior in response to seasonal changes in underwater human activities, such as snorkeling and spearfishing. It hypothesizes that fish alter their level of fear and spatial use patterns based on the presence of humans, treating them as both predators (spearfishers) and non-predators (snorkelers). The research will be conducted in coastal areas with different seasonal management strategies, offering a unique experimental system. Methods include measuring fish fear responses and using underwater cameras to track spatial patterns. The project aims to enhance our understanding of predator-prey dynamics and could inform the management and conservation of marine areas, using fish fear as an indicator of human disturbance (See addiotional documents for more details on the planned predoctoral training).