Research – Aquatic
We conduct a broad range of terrestrial, aquatic, and marine bioacoustic research, often at large geographic scales. Many of our projects are applied, featuring a strong focus on the conservation of endangered species. More recently we have engaged in the development of acoustic metrics to assess biodiversity and ecosystem health. We are also researching new ways to collect and analyze acoustic data sets using autonomous mobile systems and algorithm development. Here is an overview of our current research portfolio:
Acoustic Localization and Density EstimationAutomating acoustic tools to estimate species abundance for efficient, large-scale conservation monitoring.
- Bowhead Whale Census
Visual and acoustic monitoring to estimate the migrating whale population off the Alaskan coast.
- Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) for Marine Conservation
Repurposing telecom cables for real-time underwater acoustic monitoring.
- Freshwater Fish Monitoring
From detecting species presence to understanding patterns like seasonality and ecological behavior.
- Glacier Bay Sound Propagation Modeling
Algorithmic exploration of vessel noise to help park managers protect wildlife and preserve the natural soundscape.
- Marine Mammal Biodiversity off the Oregon Coast
Using marine passive acoustic devices to detect toothed whales along an oceanographic transect.
- Offshore Wind Development Impact
Addressing data gaps and mitigating risks along baleen whale migration routes.
- Pantanal Biodiversity
Assessing bird and frog diversity in the Pantanal to inform long-term conservation strategies, focusing on migratory bird patterns and frog behavior in response to environmental changes.
- Reef Systems and Climate Change
Monitoring reef ecosystems to assess biodiversity, track species, and understand environmental impacts.
