Variability in coral reef soundscapes, spatiotemporal differences, biophysical and behavioral drivers, and associations with local biota

Coral reefs harbor some of the highest biodiversity on the planet. Their rich ecoacoustic soundscape may provide a way to track both animal activities and community level structure. To do so, it is critical to identify how reef soundscapes are influenced by biotic and abiotic parameters, and establish how soundscapes change over time and across habitats. Here we present results from 18 coral reefs in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Maui, Hawaii, with the overall goals to quantify soundscape variability across multiple spatial and temporal scales (days to years), test how soundscape parameters relate to local biological communities, and address how biophysical parameters (light, temperature, and rugosity) influence these eco-soundscapes. Acoustic measurements were made in-tandem with benthic and fish visual surveys. Analyses were carried out using high and low-frequency bands corresponding to the primary soniferous taxa on reefs, snapping shrimp and fish. Overall, these results indicate that certain acoustic metrics can be linked to visual survey results. Snapping shrimp exhibit complex spatiotemporal patterns, with strong diel rhythms shifting over time and varying substantially over short spatial scales. Furthermore, long-term recordings are necessary to provide a robust baseline measurement of acoustic variability and better quantify changes in coral reef ecosystems.