Modeling for acoustical corridors in patchy reef habitats of the Gulf of Tribugá, Colombia

Ecological corridors are a commonly implemented terrestrial management strategy used to connect ecological areas. They are meant to allow faunal movement, enabling greater habitat space, and species and genetic diversity. What if marine “acoustical corridors” could serve the same purpose in patchy reef habitats? The Gulf of the Tribugá on Colombia’s Pacific Coast has a very patchy reef environment along its coastline. Fishes were recorded in these reef patches to identify common calls to the region. Then, acoustic propagation models from each known reef patch were produced to determine whether “acoustical corridors” did, in fact, connect them. Models were then created to consider whether a passing boat running perpendicular to the acoustical corridor could produce noise levels sufficiently high to fracture the corridor. The main product of this proof-of-concept exploration was maps of disturbed versus undisturbed acoustical connectivity of a typical fish call between reef patches. The same maps were made for singing humpback whales, as Tribugá is a breeding ground for Stock G. This talk will discuss the methods for making acoustical connectivity models that incorporate resistance levels as a way to consider how acoustical corridors may be a useful way to envision marine protected areas.