<
https://www.sciencealert.com/coral-reefs-generate-a-hidden-sound-underwater-and-it-could-help-us-to-save-them>
"We tend to associate healthy coral reefs with their visual splendor: the
vibrant array of colors and shapes that populate these beautiful underwater
ecosystems.
But they can also be rather noisy places. If you've ever been snorkeling in a
coral reef environment, you'll know the distinctive clicking and popping sounds
made by various marine creatures under the water, such as snapping shrimp and
feeding fish.
That buzzy din of background noise – almost like the chattering hiss of radio
static – is such a unique feature of the coral reef soundscape, it could help
us to monitor the health of these endangered marine habitats.
In a new study, scientists used machine learning to train an algorithm to
recognize the subtle acoustic differences between a healthy, vibrant reef and a
degraded coral site – an acoustic contrast so faint it may be impossible for
people to discern.
Compared to other labor-intensive and time-consuming processes for monitoring
reef health – having divers visit reefs to visually assess coral cover, or
manually listening to reef recordings – the new tool could deliver significant
advantages, the team suggests. Besides, many reef creatures conceal themselves
or are only seen at night, further complicating any visual surveys."
Via Rixty Dixet.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
