Special Topics in Bioacoustics and Marine Mammals

The course provides students with an in-depth understanding of the passive acoustic methods used for the study of marine mammals, for the characterization of underwater soundscapes over different temporal scales, and for monitoring underwater ambient noise levels according to the specifications of the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

• Understand the broad scope of passive acoustics to Marine Science,

• Be knowledgeable about the acoustic behavior and ecology of marine mammals,

• Be able to choose the appropriate passive acoustic equipment for a particular case study,

• Be familiar to using specialized bioacoustics software,

• Be able to use passive systems for monitoring marine mammals and ambient underwater noise, and for the automatic detection of marine mammal sounds.

• Search for, analysis and synthesis of data and information, with the use of the necessary technology. 

• Decision-making. 

• Working independently. 

• Respect for the natural environment. 

• Production of free, creative and inductive thinking. 

• Working in an interdisciplinary environment.

The course covers the following topics

• Revision and review of the basic principles of Underwater Acoustics.

• Cetaceans of the Greek seas. The ecology and population status of cetaceans inhabiting the Greek seas is presented. As a homework assignment, students are called to produce a written report describing the ecology, geographical distribution, and population status of a cetacean of the Greek seas.

• Acoustic behavior and acoustic ecology of marine mammals; pressure/threats.

• Other biological sounds in the marine environment, anthropogenic and abiotic sources of underwater noise.

• Theory and technology of passive acoustic sensors (hydrophones). As a homework assignment, students are called to choose and budget a passive acoustic system that is appropriate to their particular case study.

• Methods and software tools for the extraction of quantitative descriptors of sounds recorded with passive acoustic equipment. As a homework assignment, students are called to use specialized biocoustic software to: (a) extract descriptors of cetacean sounds, and (b) automatically detect specific cetacean sounds in long-term acoustic data.

• Analysis and characterization of the underwater soundscape of a region. As a homework assignment, students are called to analyze the acoustic characteristics of a selected marine region, over different temporal scales.

• Analysis of underwater ambient noise. As a homework assignment, students are called to use specialized software to quantitatively analyze the underwater ambient sound levels at a Marine Protected Area of Greece.

• Presentation of various national and international research projects related to bioacoustics.

Προτεινόμενη βιβλιογραφία

• Au, W.W.L., and Hastings, M.C. 2008. Principles of Marine Bioacoustics. Springer, New York.

• Trygonis, V. 2023. Special Topics in Bioacoustics. Lecture notes (in Greek). Department of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean.

• Frantzis, A. 2009. Cetaceans in Greece: Present status of knowledge. Initiative for the Conservation of Cetaceans in Greece. Technical Report, Athens, Greece, 94 pp

• Georgakarakos, S. 2004. Hydroacoustic Technology (In Greek). Department of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean.

Συναφή επιστημονικά περιοδικά

• Bioacoustics

• ICES Journal of Marine Science

• Journal of the Acoustical Society of America

• Animal Behavior

• Endangered Species Research

• Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems

• Marine Ecology Progress Series

• Marine Mammal Science

• Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom

• Mediterranean Marine Science