Underwater
Acoustics
Attraction and interaction of harbour porpoise and tagged fish in coastal protection reefs
With the artistic collaboration of @Edward_teach_ink
What is underwater acoustics?
What is underwater acoustics?
Sometimes the earth is so noisy... but have you ever thought about how noisy it must be underwater for the marine life? What if I told you that sounds underwater are even louder than they are above water? Particles in water are closer together than air particles. Not only is the noise irritating and unpleasant for marine life, a lot of animals use sounds and echolocation as their main form of communication. Sound travels over four times faster than in water, which means whales can potentially speak to each other anywhere on earth!
Sometimes the earth is so noisy... but have you ever thought about how noisy it must be underwater for the marine life? What if I told you that sounds underwater are even louder than they are above water? Particles in water are closer together than air particles. Not only is the noise irritating and unpleasant for marine life, a lot of animals use sounds and echolocation as their main form of communication. Sound travels over four times faster than in water, which means whales can potentially speak to each other anywhere on earth!
Mission of the project
Mission of the project
In the Belgian part of the North Sea (BPNS), active and passive acoustic sensors are used to study the distribution and behaviour of marine populations in response to anthropogenic activities.
In the Belgian part of the North Sea (BPNS), active and passive acoustic sensors are used to study the distribution and behaviour of marine populations in response to anthropogenic activities.
As part of the Belgian contribution to the LifeWatch project, and within the Marine Observation Centre (MOC), the VLIZ institute conducts long-term monitoring through the use of the C-PODs network to record small cetaceans and Fish acoustics receiver networks for tagged fish at sea and coastal area.
As part of the Belgian contribution to the LifeWatch project, and within the Marine Observation Centre (MOC), the VLIZ institute conducts long-term monitoring through the use of the C-PODs network to record small cetaceans and Fish acoustics receiver networks for tagged fish at sea and coastal area.
We have studied the recurrence of Harbour Porpoises and Atlantic Cods in four years survey to detect trophic interactions and insights on their forage ecology in the vicinity of the Belwind offshore wind farm.
We have studied the recurrence of Harbour Porpoises and Atlantic Cods in four years survey to detect trophic interactions and insights on their forage ecology in the vicinity of the Belwind offshore wind farm.
Our first goal is to capture the ecosystem function of biogenic reefs beyond their role of coastal protection. These areas can become biodiversity hotspots, provide shelter and attract species from higher trophic levels.
Our first goal is to capture the ecosystem function of biogenic reefs beyond their role of coastal protection. These areas can become biodiversity hotspots, provide shelter and attract species from higher trophic levels.
We seek to understand the impacts of human-generated noise on marine life – using our understanding to inform policy-makers and scientific community.
We seek to understand the impacts of human-generated noise on marine life – using our understanding to inform policy-makers and scientific community.
The Belgian LifeWatch project
The Belgian LifeWatch project
The Belgian LifeWatch project is part of the European LifeWatch infrastructure (ERIC). LifeWatch is an ambitious project that can be seen as a virtual laboratory for marine and terrestrial biodiversity research, which aims to integrate and facilitate access to scientific knowledge as a whole. The VLIZ with the local "LifeWatch Observatory" helps to carry out long-term multidisciplinary observations in the Belgian marine environment to improve our understanding of the dynamics and changes of marine, coastal and estuarine ecosystems and to implement their management and conservation. VLIZ also supports and facilitates access to numerous databases and data systems for the entire scientific community.
The Belgian LifeWatch project is part of the European LifeWatch infrastructure (ERIC). LifeWatch is an ambitious project that can be seen as a virtual laboratory for marine and terrestrial biodiversity research, which aims to integrate and facilitate access to scientific knowledge as a whole. The VLIZ with the local "LifeWatch Observatory" helps to carry out long-term multidisciplinary observations in the Belgian marine environment to improve our understanding of the dynamics and changes of marine, coastal and estuarine ecosystems and to implement their management and conservation. VLIZ also supports and facilitates access to numerous databases and data systems for the entire scientific community.
The Sensors
The Sensors
Cetacean passive acoustic network
Cetacean passive acoustic network
The C-POD (Continuous Porpoises Detectors) can be installed on a bottom moored tripod with acoustic release, or with a rope on the artificial Reefballs, with a radio that transmits the detected sounds to a receiving station on the coast, a ship or with recorder and batteries to operate for long-term monitoring. The C-POD can record underwater sounds between <10kHz and 160 kHz including sediment noise, sonar and other underwater biotic and abiotic sounds.
The C-POD (Continuous Porpoises Detectors) can be installed on a bottom moored tripod with acoustic release, or with a rope on the artificial Reefballs, with a radio that transmits the detected sounds to a receiving station on the coast, a ship or with recorder and batteries to operate for long-term monitoring. The C-POD can record underwater sounds between <10kHz and 160 kHz including sediment noise, sonar and other underwater biotic and abiotic sounds.
Fish acoustic receiver network
Fish acoustic receiver network
Fish are equipped with electronic tags, implanted internally or externally through a small surgical intervention. The acoustic signals of the tags can be detected by a network of receivers which are also contained in the C-POD sensor network. When a fish swims in the vicinity of the sensor, the unique ID-code of the fish tagged is stored on the receiver together with the time of detection. It also stores the sensor data incorporated in the tags (e.g. Temperature, pressure and acceleration).
Fish are equipped with electronic tags, implanted internally or externally through a small surgical intervention. The acoustic signals of the tags can be detected by a network of receivers which are also contained in the C-POD sensor network. When a fish swims in the vicinity of the sensor, the unique ID-code of the fish tagged is stored on the receiver together with the time of detection. It also stores the sensor data incorporated in the tags (e.g. Temperature, pressure and acceleration).
UNDERWATER SOUND LIBRARY
UNDERWATER SOUND LIBRARY
Click on the pictures
Click on the pictures
and
and
explore the variety of man-made underwater sounds that affect marine life.
explore the variety of man-made underwater sounds that affect marine life.
OFFSHORE ENERGY: wind and tidal swings
OFFSHORE ENERGY: wind and tidal swings
Low-Frequency Naval sonar
Low-Frequency Naval sonar
Seismic Airgun
Source: NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory VENTS Program Seismic Airgun
The Species
The Species
Harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) are the most common cetaceans in the North Sea. They are top predators and marine indicators for the health of an ecosystem. They echolocate almost continuously to forage, navigate, and communicate... with clicks within 110-150 kHz. Passive acoustic monitoring devices (PAM) are used to study the seasonal distribution and feed the ecology by recording its sound characteristics.
Harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) are the most common cetaceans in the North Sea. They are top predators and marine indicators for the health of an ecosystem. They echolocate almost continuously to forage, navigate, and communicate... with clicks within 110-150 kHz. Passive acoustic monitoring devices (PAM) are used to study the seasonal distribution and feed the ecology by recording its sound characteristics.
Atlantic Cods (Gadus morhua ) are species with a high economic value throughout the North Atlantic. Today, cod have been subjected to excessive human activity that produces high-intensity low-frequency sounds that travel a lot underwater within their auditory range. Acoustic telemetry provides information on the effects of artificial noise on cod for management plans for their recovery.
Atlantic Cods (Gadus morhua ) are species with a high economic value throughout the North Atlantic. Today, cod have been subjected to excessive human activity that produces high-intensity low-frequency sounds that travel a lot underwater within their auditory range. Acoustic telemetry provides information on the effects of artificial noise on cod for management plans for their recovery.
What are the potential effects of sound on marine life?
What are the potential effects of sound on marine life?
Hearing ranges of marine life and main energy frequencies reported for anthropogenic sources (Suedel et al. 2018).
Marine Mammals:
Marine Mammals:
Marine Fish:
Marine Fish:
- Masking sounds for feeding, mating and orientation
- Swim bladder rupture
Application of new tools and competencies
Application of new tools and competencies
How to detect click trains with
How to detect click trains with
C-POD.exe?
C-POD.exe?
The CPOD.exe software (v2.044, Chelonia 2015)was used to analyse raw underwater sound data from the C-POD within the range of <10 kHz and 160 kHz and through the production of spectrograms, it allows to interpret clicks and sounds from different sources, whether from naval sonar, sediment or marine organisms.
The CPOD.exe software (v2.044, Chelonia 2015)was used to analyse raw underwater sound data from the C-POD within the range of <10 kHz and 160 kHz and through the production of spectrograms, it allows to interpret clicks and sounds from different sources, whether from naval sonar, sediment or marine organisms.
Harbour porpoises clicks: narrowband, high-frequency (ultrasonic) within 110-150 kHz.
Harbour porpoises clicks: narrowband, high-frequency (ultrasonic) within 110-150 kHz.
Dolphins clicks: directional, broadband clicks in sequence, within 40-130 kHz.
Dolphins clicks: directional, broadband clicks in sequence, within 40-130 kHz.
Flanders Marine institute (VLIZ)
Flanders Marine institute (VLIZ)
The VLIZ institute represents the largest support structure for marine research in Flanders. Find more about VLIZ and its mission here
The VLIZ institute represents the largest support structure for marine research in Flanders. Find more about VLIZ and its mission here
European tracking Network (ETN)
European tracking Network (ETN)
The European Tracking Network aims to include in one network all biotelemetry systems used for the monitoring of aquatic animals in European waters. Find more about ETN here
The European Tracking Network aims to include in one network all biotelemetry systems used for the monitoring of aquatic animals in European waters. Find more about ETN here
Meet the team
Meet the team
Postdoc science officer
Postdoc science officer
I am a Marine scientist with background in bioacoustics, specialized in offshore experiments/studies using passive and active acoustics In the Belgian Part of the North Sea.
Jan Reubens
Jan Reubens
Postdoc science officer
Postdoc science officer
I am responsible for the acoustic receiver network. I carry out lecturer of ‘Fisheries’ in the EMBC+ master programme. In addition, I am Advanced Belgian Scientific Diver responsible for scientific diving related issues in the lab.
Bianca Melita Palmas
Bianca Melita Palmas
MSc's student
MSc's student
I am an IMBRSea student who pursues a career in the marine sciences. I am interested in studying the anthropogenic impact on marine life through observations on their behavioural and trophic changes to inform policymakers and implement marine environment management.
Get deeper into the project...
Get deeper into the project...
An input for future research...
An input for future research...
- The wind turbines foundations are quickly invaded by a high number of benthic organisms. Atlantic cods and other fish are strongly attracted to these foundations because they feed mainly on these benthic organisms.
- Harbour porpoises are sensitive to underwater noise of the wind turbines, however they seem to be attracted to the many preys near the wind farms.
- Both species show marked seasonal distribution with H. porpoises peak in Winter. Cods migrate and spawn between Winter and Spring and show the highest abundance after the Summer season.
- Different day-night cycle: Porpoise detection is significantly higher at night, Cod is tendentially a diurnal predator.
Questions?
Questions?
biancamelita.palmas@imbrsea.eu
Contents of interest
Contents of interest
To get a broader view of the use of underwater acoustics, here are linked some articles and studies of interest related to this research line.
To get a broader view of the use of underwater acoustics, here are linked some articles and studies of interest related to this research line.
