Underwater Speakers Boost Coral Larvae Settlement on Degraded Reefs

A recent study shows that broadcasting sounds of healthy reefs can significantly increase coral larvae settlement, offering a new approach to reef restoration.

• A study by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution found that playing sounds of healthy reefs encourages coral larvae to settle on degraded reefs.
• Researchers used underwater speakers at three sites near St. John, Virgin Islands, resulting in up to 1.7 times more larvae settlement.
• The technique aims to combat the decline of coral reefs due to factors like global warming, overfishing, and pollution.
• Further research is needed to determine if the coral colonies started by this method can survive long-term.
• The method could potentially be combined with other efforts to restore coral reefs and attract fish back to the reefs.

3 Articles

Phys.org The Guardian ABC News