The undersea orchestra - Ocean sounds and what they tell us
The University of Auckland’s Craig Radford uses a hydrophone to listen to crayfish. Photo: © Richard Robinson
Follow Voice of Tangaroa on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart or wherever you get your podcasts.
Crackle, pop, woof, crunch, click.
Beneath the roar of the surf, an undersea orchestra is in full swing.
Symphony in the sea
New Zealand bigeyes – small, nocturnal reef fish – make rhythmic pops in the dark to help them stay together as a school. Photo: © Richard Robinson
Journalist Kate Evans and presenter Claire Concannon discover a world of snapping shrimp, singing whales and barking John Dory.
Researchers Professor Craig Radford and Dr Jenni Stanley are uncovering more about the orchestra harmonising under the waves – who’s playing in it, and why they are making these sounds.
Plus, what impact is our human noise – like boats – having on ocean creatures?
Listen to the episode to immerse yourself in this hidden sonic world.
Learn more:
-
Read the accompanying New Zealand Geographic article by Kate Evans, with photography by Richard Robinson.
Photo: NZ On Air
Voice of Tangaroa is a joint production between RNZ’s Our Changing World and New Zealand Geographic.
Reporting for this series is Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air. You can learn more and read the articles for free at www.nzgeo.com/seas