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The turbulent soundscape of intertidal oyster reefs
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  • Martin P. Volaric,
  • Eli M. Stine,
  • Matthew Burtner,
  • Steven S Andrews,
  • Peter Berg,
  • Matthew Abraham Reidenbach
Martin P. Volaric
University of Virginia
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Eli M. Stine
Oberlin Conservatory
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Matthew Burtner
University of Virginia
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Steven S Andrews
University of Washington
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Peter Berg
University of Virginia
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Matthew Abraham Reidenbach
University of Virginia

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Abstract

Turbulence and sound are important cues for oyster reef larval recruitment. Numerous studies have found a relationship between turbulence intensity and swimming behaviors of marine larvae, while others have documented the importance of sounds in enhancing larval recruitment to oyster reefs. However, the relationship between turbulence and the reef soundscape is not well understood. In this study we made side-by-side acoustic Doppler velocimeter turbulence measurements and hydrophone soundscape recordings over 2 intertidal oyster reefs (1 natural and 1 restored) and 1 adjacent bare mudflat as a reference. Sound pressure levels (SPL) were similar across all three sites, although SPL > 2000 Hz was highest at the restored reef, likely due to its larger area that contained a greater number of sound-producing organisms. Flow noise (FN), defined as the mean of pressure fluctuations recorded by the hydrophone at f < 100 Hz, was significantly related to mean flow speed, turbulent kinetic energy, and turbulence dissipation rate (ε), agreeing with theoretical calculations for turbulence. Our results also show a similar relationship between ε and FN to what has been previously reported for ε vs. downward larval swimming velocity (wb), with both FN and wb demonstrating rapid growth at ε > 0.1 cm2 s-3. These results suggest that reef turbulence and sounds may attract oyster larvae in complementary and synergistic ways.
26 Jul 2024Submitted to ESS Open Archive
29 Jul 2024Published in ESS Open Archive