Soundscapes & Climate Change
Working in the May River, South Carolina (USA) with Loggerhead's passive acoustic recorders, a team from the University of South Carolina Beaufort conducted a six-year study which found acoustic activity of snapping shrimp and certain fish species occurred earlier in years with warmer springs.
This research shows that sound production in snapping shrimp and soniferous fish species could serve as potential underwater indicators of climate-driven changes in spring phenology. Soundscape research has the potential to provide insight into the response and resiliency of individual species and their behaviors.
Hurricane Irma causes underwater sound levels to increase 30 dB
We have been running an experimental listening station at Mote Marine Laboratory in collaboration with the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program. The station uses an LS1 board and calculates sound levels in real time and reports them via cell to an online database. It kept running through the hurricane.
It is interesting that sound levels were so low the day before---no pleasure boating. Once we get out there to get the raw data, we will share some wav files.