Photosynthesis by marine algae produces sound, contributing to the daytime soundscape on coral reefs.

ABSTRACT: We have observed that marine macroalgae produce sound during photosynthesis. The resultant soundscapes correlate with benthic macroalgal cover across shallow Hawaiian coral reefs during the day, despite the presence of other biological noise. Likely ubiquitous but previously overlooked, this source of ambient biological noise in the coastal ocean is driven by local supersaturation of oxygen near the surface of macroalgal filaments, and the resultant formation and release of oxygen-containing bubbles into the water column. During release, relaxation of the bubble to a spherical shape creates a monopole sound source that 'rings' at the Minnaert frequency. Many such bubbles create a large, distributed sound source over the sea floor. Reef soundscapes contain vast quantities of biological info

SUBMITTER: Freeman SE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6169855 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature