This project aims to use passive acoustics to monitor Mozambique Island coral reef biodiversity
WHY
Coral reefs are biodiversity hotspots in urgent need of protection in most areas of the tropical belt due to increasing anthropogenic pressures and climate change.
Methodology
Sounds produced by fishes are an important component of soundscapes in these ecosystems making passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) an effective tool to map the presence of target species or to estimate changes in biodiversity.
HOW
Using underwater acoustic recordings, the present project aims to catalog fish sounds and validate ecoacoustic methologies that should allow to assess the state of this important habitat througth time.
Key concepts
Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM)
A non-invasive method of simple application and reduced logistics, for monitoring fish biological communities in an aquatic ecosystem such as a coral reef.
Fish sounds
Several species produce sounds in contexts such as courtship, or spawning and may rely on acoustic communication for successful breeding. These sounds can be used to monitor an ecosystem.
Soundscape characterization
The combination of natural (biotic and abiotic) and anthropogenic sounds form the soundscape of environment. Through passive acoustic monitoring we can extract information to infer biodiversity and environmental quality.
Ecoacoustic indeces
Over the last decades, several indices have been proposed to describe a variety of acoustic features, and ultimately to represent the biological complexity of the soundscape.
Major tasks
Identify sound producing fishes
Catalog fish sound types
Characterize temporal and spatial patterns
Assess ecoacoustic indices to evaluate biodiversity
Dissemination of results
Results
Characterization of a fish acoustic hotspot in a Mozambican tropical coral reef.
soon
Team
Paulo J. Fonseca
Principal Investigator
Manuel Vieira
Investigator
M. Clara P. Amorim
Investigator
Ricardo Duarte
Investigator
Marina Puebla-Aparicio
Masters student
Claudia Ascencio-Elizondo
Masters student
