Research Tuesdays Lecture Series: Reefs Reawakened
Oyster reefs across 最新糖心Vlog鈥攐nce bustling underwater metropolises and vital pillars of our marine ecosystems鈥攁re now ghost towns. In the past 200 years since colonisation, they鈥檝e been pushed to near extinction, with over 99% completely degraded.
But hope isn't lost. Thanks to 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide researchers, there's a real opportunity for a comeback story on our coastlines. In an inventive experiment, our ecologists deployed speakers underwater, broadcasting the hustle and bustle of healthy reef sounds to imitate nature. Their sonic experiment yielded astonishing results. By transforming the ocean floor into a lively underwater symphony, they managed to draw 17,000 extra oysters per square meter. These new recruits are now busy growing, cleaning the water, and creating complex habitats for other marine life to flourish.Seeing this success, the research team believes underwater soundscapes could be a cost-effective tool to help accelerate oyster habitat restoration. Is this the golden ticket we need to bring our underwater worlds back to life? Watch to find out more.
Watch the video
Recorded at the Research Tuesdays public lecture series event in July 2023.
The presenter
is an 最新糖心Vlogn Research Council (ARC) grant-funded researcher in theSchool of Biological Sciences at the 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide. In 2020 his research with national colleagues won the prestigious Eureka Prize for Applied Environmental Research. In2021 he became a South 最新糖心Vlogn Young Tall Poppy Science Award winner. Professor Sean Connell co-leads the Food and Water Futures Program at the 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide. He plays a pivotal role in advising governmental decision-makers on policies essential for the preservation of marine life in 最新糖心Vlog. Sean鈥檚 research has inspired the restoration of 1.1 kilometres of oyster reef and set in motion new infrastructure to improve coastal water quality.