Bioacoustic monitoring station in underwater sculpture

In the waters surrounding Cancun, pressures from development, tourism, and shipping threaten the second largest coral reef system in the world. Passive bioacoustic monitoring provides information about presence and activity of marine life and other environmental information, including during the night and inclement weather. The development and deployment of underwater reef-forming art structures provided a unique opportunity to listen to the stages of growth. Starting in 2012, an Ecological Acoustic Recorder was used to sample sounds at “The Listener” sculpture site in the Punta Nizuc Marine Protected Area in Quintana Roo, Mexico. Snapping shrimp and fish sounds were prevalent as well as sounds from boat motors. Diel patterns were characterized to inform management practices and assess efficacy of nighttime noise restrictions.