Hosted by the School of Biological Sciences
Over the last 20 years, we have discovered that the larvae of many coral reef organisms, including fish, molluscs, crustaceans and corals themselves, cue into the cacophony of noise generated by reef residents. This sensory information helps larvae find coastlines, guides directional swimming, informs microhabitat selection and alters settlement behaviour. But during the same period, we have become acutely aware of the negative impacts of anthropogenic noise pollution in the ocean. On coral reefs, motorboat noise can be prevalent, masking cues, deterring larvae from settling, elevating stress levels, changing fish behaviour (sometimes with fatal consequences) and reducing reproductive success. Sadly, some of the most pristine reefs we first worked on have been reduced to rubble fields, with overfishing, bleaching and cyclones causing devastating mortality that is reflected in the soundscapes at our study sites. The diverse and dynamic sound of this bustling reef orchestra is no more. We are, quite literally, changing the soundtrack of the Anthropocene.
So we are turning knowledge into solutions to restore reef communities. By listening to reefs, we can measure biodiversity, including nocturnal and cryptic animals that evade the attention of visual surveys, and so assess reef health. We are developing metrics for managers to map reef health in pristine, degraded and recovering sites, providing financiers and insurers with objective metrics of recovery to support further investment. Through a range of field-based experiments, some spanning entire breeding seasons, we have developed simple management approaches to limit the negative impacts of motorboat noise. By combining spatial, temporal and technological mitigation strategies, we can increase the likelihood of larval settlement to focal sites and increase natural breeding success. Finally, applying our knowledge of acoustically-mediated larval settlement, we are starting to call fish into reef restoration sites to accelerate recovery. With recently-gained bioacoustics knowledge and the opportunities and determination to "think big", we can conserve our coral reefs for future generations.