Selectivity in the acoustic response of Cymodocea nodosa (Ucria) Ascherson

Abstract The objective of this paper is to present a hypothesis to explain the selective response of Cymodocea nodosa in sonar images taken with frequencies of 100 and 500 kHz, as with the former frequency the communities present a very strong acoustic response, while with the second they appear almost transparent. The morphology and anatomy of the plant is analysed, and it is concluded that the air contained in the channels of leaves, rhizomes and roots, in relationship with the penetration in soft sediments of the frequencies used is the cause for the acoustic signature of the communities.