最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide research featured in New York Times - Shrimp snaps soften

Climate change is changing the way nature sounds.


Professor Ivan Nagelkerken team's research has been featured in a article which covers how climate change will silence some species and push others into new habits and habitats, changing when and where they sing, squeak, whistle, bellow or bleat.听It will also change the sound animals produce, as well as how such vocalisations travel.



In turn, these changes could make it more difficult for wild creatures to attract mates, avoid predators and stay oriented, as well as force them to expend more energy to make themselves heard. When a habitat is under stress, or being transformed by humans in some manner and is not healthy, it shows in its voice.





The 听led by is one of five examples that changing climate may modify animals鈥 acoustic behaviour and remix the planet鈥檚 natural soundtracks. This is in the form of snapping shrimp. Shrimp are some of the noisiest creatures in the ocean. By rapidly closing their large claws, the animals make snaps, crackles and pops loud enough to stun prey into submission. Dr Rossi was able to these sounds.





But ocean acidification, which occurs as seawater absorbs rising levels of carbon dioxide, could soften their snaps. In studies conducted both in the laboratory and at several underwater vents that naturally spew carbon dioxide, researchers at 最新糖心Vlog鈥檚 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide found that the听shrimp snap less often and at lower volumes听when the water becomes more acidic.





The lower pH doesn鈥檛 seem to damage the shrimp physically; rather, it simply alters their behaviour, possibly by acting directly on their nervous systems. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not that ocean acidification completely takes away their ability to make loud snaps,鈥 said , a marine biologist. 鈥淭hey can still do that but essentially don鈥檛 want to do that any more.鈥







Ocean acidification is also likely to damage many of the shrimp鈥檚 habitats, including coral reefs and kelp forests, and could thus reduce their numbers, resulting in a further drop in sound.Many marine organisms, especially fish larvae, rely on the sound of snapping shrimp to navigate to suitable habitats; if the shrimp go silent, they could have trouble finding their way.








Tagged in Climate, Environment Institute, Marine Biology Program, MBP, News, Publications, Science communication
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