Xavier Raick, Ph.D.

My scientific interests are centered on aquatic ecoacoustics and conservation bioacoustics. My initial foray into research focused on sound production in a particular fish species, through which I discovered the potential held within these sounds. I recognized the value of not only investigating the purposes and mechanisms behind species-specific vocalizations but also applying these insights for passive acoustic monitoring (PAM). The appeal of PAM in studying underwater ecosystems lies in its completely noninvasive nature.

Following my master’s thesis, I was awarded an Erasmus+ grant to pursue research at the GIPSA-lab at Grenoble Alpes University in France, where I studied the ecoacoustics of Mediterranean aquatic meadows. I then worked as a professional scuba diver at several diving centers in Croatia and the Canary Islands. Later, I undertook a short-term research position focused on neotropical freshwater systems, where I conducted fieldwork in the Brazilian savannah, studying piranha vocalizations.

In 2018, I began a six-year Ph.D. program combined with an assistantship, which allowed me to balance research and teaching responsibilities. I led practicals and fieldwork sessions for undergraduate courses in zoology, biodiversity, and ecology, and taught graduate classes in vertebrate (eco-)morphology, animal communication, marine ecology, and biological oceanography. During my Ph.D., I focused on coral reef PAM, investigating the biophony of photic and mesophotic coral reefs in French Polynesia. My research examined the spatial and diurnal variations in sounds produced by fish, benthic invertebrates, and cetaceans across depth gradients, exploring the production mechanisms, analysis techniques, and human impacts on these soundscapes. This research has been endorsed by the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030 and awarded by the Royal Society of Sciences of Liège and the Royal Academy of Science, Letters and Fine Arts of Belgium.

At the K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics, I am now focused on the spatiotemporal distribution of baleen whales of the genus Balaenoptera in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, aiming to inform conservation strategies to mitigate anthropogenic impacts. This research is a collaboration between Cornell University, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Additionally, I am involved in conservation initiatives focused on coral restoration in Bora Bora Island and endangered catfish populations in Brazil.