The first acoustic monitoring survey will soon begin in the Gulf of Mexico. Cornell researchers, in conjunction with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will set up devices along the ocean floor to pick up sounds of various sea life and assess changes in sea life after the oil spill. The devices, 22 in all, are called marine autonomous recording units (MARUs). The MARUs are expected to record various sounds including the echolations of whales communicating with one another.
Scientists will interpret various findings from the results. They will be able to determine the population size of the whale population, and whether that population has changed since the oil disaster. They will be able to determine if oil has affected whale’s eating supply. It will be interesting to see what scientist do with the results. Assuming much of the squid, plankton, and other food for whales has been killed, what would be a way to keep the sperm whale and other creatures from becoming extinct? Would it be possible to attract fish to the gulf? Or could we facilitate life for these sea creatures in any way? What do you think?
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