Researchers found that playing healthy reef sounds increased coral larvae settlement up to seven times at degraded reefs.

Researchers at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution discovered that replaying healthy reef sounds could encourage coral larvae to recolonize damaged or degraded reefs. By broadcasting the soundscape of a healthy reef at a degraded reef, coral larvae settled at significantly higher rates, up to seven times higher. The findings, published in Royal Society Open Science, suggest that utilizing underwater speakers to play healthy reef sounds could be a key intervention to support imperiled reefs.

March 13, 2024
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