Presentation Title
Exploring the Soundscapes of the Gulf of Papagayo in Costa Rica
Abstract
Because many aquatic species rely on sound to communicate, sound provides important cues about marine community. Here we use soundscape tools to study the impact of boat traffic on the health of the two marine communities in the north Pacific coast of Costa Rica that vary in their levels of protection. To understand the potential impact of noise due to boat activity we used autonomous underwater recorders collected over a 24-hour cycle for 11-15 days. We then took a 1-min file sample and uploaded to ARBIMON (a sound analysis platform) to measure the diel contribution of boat noise to the soundscape and calculate diel changes in acoustic diversity using the Acoustic Complexity Index. Biodiversity assessments are necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of MPAs and to make informed decisions to maximize their utility and mitigate the threats they face. The results of this project will provide an exhaustive evaluation of the conservation status of these marine communities.
Primary Faculty Mentor Name
Laura May-Collado
Faculty/Staff Collaborators
Laura May-Collado
Status
Undergraduate
Student College
College of Arts and Sciences
Program/Major
Neuroscience
Primary Research Category
Biological Sciences
Exploring the Soundscapes of the Gulf of Papagayo in Costa Rica
Because many aquatic species rely on sound to communicate, sound provides important cues about marine community. Here we use soundscape tools to study the impact of boat traffic on the health of the two marine communities in the north Pacific coast of Costa Rica that vary in their levels of protection. To understand the potential impact of noise due to boat activity we used autonomous underwater recorders collected over a 24-hour cycle for 11-15 days. We then took a 1-min file sample and uploaded to ARBIMON (a sound analysis platform) to measure the diel contribution of boat noise to the soundscape and calculate diel changes in acoustic diversity using the Acoustic Complexity Index. Biodiversity assessments are necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of MPAs and to make informed decisions to maximize their utility and mitigate the threats they face. The results of this project will provide an exhaustive evaluation of the conservation status of these marine communities.