Using sound as a tool for conservation

以声音为工具进行保护

The Conversation

2025-10-20

26 分钟
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What can the sounds of the natural world tell us about the health of our ecosystems? Datshiane Navanayagam talks two sound ecologists in Scotland and Australia about using soundscape monitoring as a tool to help in conservation work. Dr Elizabeth Znidersic is an Australian ecologist who has worked extensively in the US and in Tasmania with the Parks and Wildlife Service. Her current project, 'Eavesdropping on wetland birds' uses sound recorders to detect secretive marsh birds and she is about embark on a world-first trial, looking into the effectiveness of using call-playback systems to help restore terrestrial ecosystems. Dr Denise Risch is a marine mammal ecologist and senior lecturer at the Scottish Association for Marine Science. For twenty years, she’s been involved in the study of aquatic soundscapes and investigates how marine species are impacted by man-made noise pollution. She’s been involved in a project which uses underwater microphones to measure turbine noise in Pentland Firth strait and another, to establish the effects of acoustic signals on harbour porpoises in Scottish waters. (Image: (L) Dr Elizabeth Znidersic courtesy Dr Elizabeth Znidersic. (R) Dr Denise Risch credit Jonny Reid.)
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  • This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK.

  • Hello, I'm Dashiani Navanayagam and welcome to the conversation from the BBC World Service.

  • This is the programme which delves into the work and experiences of women doing incredible things around the world.

  • Now, traditionally ecologists have measured environmental health by looking at habitats.

  • However,

  • that's now changing as eco-acoustic approaches are increasingly being used as a tool to monitor the health of ecosystems.

  • My guests today are two women who know the importance of what sound can tell us about our natural world.

  • and our own impact on it.

  • Dr Denise Rich is a German marine mammal ecologist and senior lecturer at the Scottish Association for Marine Science who's been studying aquatic soundscapes for over 20 years.

  • And Dr Elizabeth Snidersick is an Australian ecologist who monitors the sound of secretive wetland birds and is researching how sound itself can be used as a restoration tool.

  • We'll find out more shortly, but first Elizabeth and Denise, welcome to the conversation.

  • Thank you very much.

  • Nice to be here.

  • It's fabulous to be here, Dushy.

  • Thank you.

  • Denise,

  • let's start with you

  • because the vast open ocean can appear very deadly quiet compared to many places on land.

  • But actually, how true is that?

  • Not true at all, to be honest.