Scientists are working to protect coral reefs
Global warming and rising ocean salinity are responsible for the destruction of coral reefs. And so scientists have been working to protect coral reefs for a long time.
As part of this, a group of scientists determined the effect of noise on coral larvae. To put it simply, they have started working on whether the damage to coral reefs can be reduced through sound.
As part of the research, the scientists are first attracting the coral larvae’s attention by playing music through underwater speakers. Studies have shown that music played over speakers works wonders in bringing back life to damaged coral reefs.
Scientists found that playing music in certain areas of the US Virgin Islands in the Caribbean resulted in seven times more coral larvae.
Nadez Aoki, a scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts, USA, mentioned that they are attempting to restore the damaged coral reef by playing music through speakers to attract larvae.
Speakers are attracting both coral larvae and various fish species to the reef with their sound. That is, the coral larvae are rushing to the sound of the speaker. The matter can be compared with Hamilton’s story of the piper.
Coral reefs are shrinking due to global warming, overfishing, pollution, habitat loss and disease outbreaks. There are half as many coral reefs in the world now as there were in 1950.
The research is being conducted on coral larvae as part of protecting the remaining coral reefs. Coral larvae are attracted to and flourish in response to various sounds in the ocean. This technique is being used to bring coral larvae to damaged reefs.
A study on how noise affects coral larvae was published in the journal Royal Society Open Science. It is said that 1.7 times more coral larvae accumulate in areas where sound is heard.
Steve Simpson, a marine biologist from the University of Bristol in the UK, stated that coral larvae react to sounds. And so through the sound of the speaker there is an opportunity for fish and life to thrive near the coral reef.
Further research on sound is needed for future development of atolls. We need to find innovative and sustainable ways to save the ocean’s coral reefs due to rising climate change.
