Isla Keesje Davidson, Ph.D.

I am part of the team working on the World Oceans Passive Acoustic Monitoring (WOPAM) Project. We are a growing community of bioacousticians, artists, conservationists and participatory scientists that come together every World Oceans Day (8th of June) to record the sounds of the oceans across the world. Having started in 2023, we are a multidisciplinary community-driven project in which we aim to exchange knowledge, share the work of our collaborators, develop sound analysis methods, host workshops and explore the important world of underwater sound across the planet. Every year, we will listen in to the “soundscapes” below the surface and work to understand what they tell us about acoustic communication, biodiversity, and ecosystem health. We hope to foster a space in which we explore the diverse ways in which we connect with sound and how we listen. To hear and see where we have listened so far, please visit: https://www.wo-pam.com/ and feel welcome to contact me with any questions or ideas.

More broadly, I am a marine biologist that explores behavioral ecology of wildlife within near-shore coastal habitats by recording their sounds; tuning into bioacoustics. My research investigates the acoustic communication between species, the soundscapes within coral reefs, and how this can inform on biodiversity baselines, identifying key threats and contribute to conservation strategies. With my experience in the field for extended periods, I have been privileged to study the behavior and interactions across various reef species (from cleaner wrasse, manta rays, clownfish and ambon damselfish). I am interested in how behavioral interactions within diverse habitats may be impacted by changing environments, and the influence of this on biodiversity. It is also, in meeting different people and cultures, that I have learnt the importance of exploring the different ways we can engage with science, communicate knowledge and progress towards evidence-based and inclusive conservation action.

Whenever I return to the ocean I spend as much time as I can freediving and trying out underwater photography. I especially like the moments of calm beside some of the more hesitant, shy creatures that are curious but take time to openly watch you back. I’m trying to combine this with ink-work and etching.