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Using Animals To Monitor Climate Change
Globally, thousands of marine animals are tagged for a variety of research and conservation purposes. But the data collected from tagging is not widely used to monitor the oceans or track the effects of climate change. Instead, for that purpose, scientists deploy research vessels, underwater drones, and thousands of floating sensors. As a result, large areas of the ocean remain under-sampled.
According to a study led by researchers at the University of Exeter,
marine animals with tags could fill in these knowledge gaps through their
natural behaviors, like moving against currents, swimming in shallow waters,
and diving under ice.
For example, tagged seals near the north and south poles have already
complemented ocean observation systems by providing data from deep sea dives
under ice that’s inaccessible to other instruments. The research team suggests data collected
from sharks or turtles could also enhance ocean monitoring in other remote and
critical areas, such as tropical regions.
Tropical regions of the ocean have a large influence on global climate
variability and weather.
The researchers note that animal welfare is paramount. They are not
advocating for animals to be tracked solely for oceanography. They simply want those animals already being
tracked for ecological research to be recruited as oceanographers as well.
Researchers from the University of St Andrews, the Mediterranean
Institute of Advanced Studies, the Spanish Institute of Oceanography, and the
Balearic Islands Coastal Observing and Forecasting System also contributed to
the study.
The research team hopes their work illustrates the need for further collaboration
between ecologists and oceanographers.
**********
Web Links
Animals could help humans monitor oceans
Photo, posted August 1, 2012, courtesy of Kitty Terwolbeck via Flickr.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.
View all episodes
By Randy Simon
4.7
1515 ratings
Globally, thousands of marine animals are tagged for a variety of research and conservation purposes. But the data collected from tagging is not widely used to monitor the oceans or track the effects of climate change. Instead, for that purpose, scientists deploy research vessels, underwater drones, and thousands of floating sensors. As a result, large areas of the ocean remain under-sampled.
According to a study led by researchers at the University of Exeter,
marine animals with tags could fill in these knowledge gaps through their
natural behaviors, like moving against currents, swimming in shallow waters,
and diving under ice.
For example, tagged seals near the north and south poles have already
complemented ocean observation systems by providing data from deep sea dives
under ice that’s inaccessible to other instruments. The research team suggests data collected
from sharks or turtles could also enhance ocean monitoring in other remote and
critical areas, such as tropical regions.
Tropical regions of the ocean have a large influence on global climate
variability and weather.
The researchers note that animal welfare is paramount. They are not
advocating for animals to be tracked solely for oceanography. They simply want those animals already being
tracked for ecological research to be recruited as oceanographers as well.
Researchers from the University of St Andrews, the Mediterranean
Institute of Advanced Studies, the Spanish Institute of Oceanography, and the
Balearic Islands Coastal Observing and Forecasting System also contributed to
the study.
The research team hopes their work illustrates the need for further collaboration
between ecologists and oceanographers.
**********
Web Links
Animals could help humans monitor oceans
Photo, posted August 1, 2012, courtesy of Kitty Terwolbeck via Flickr.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.
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