Animals could help monitor unmapped ocean regions, finds study

Animals such as penguins, turtles, or sharks carrying sensors could help humans monitor oceans by transmitting information, according to a study which assessed 183 species and areas y are kwn to inhabit. researchers, including those from University of Exeter in UK, said while ocean monitoring is mostly done by research vessels, underwater drones, and thousands of floating sensors drifting with currents, large areas still remain under-sampled, leaving gaps in our kwledge.

Animals could help monitor unmapped ocean regions

study, published in journal Global Change Biology, ted that animals carrying sensors can fill many of se gaps through ir natural behaviour like diving under ice, swimming in shallow water, or moving against currents.

"We want to highlight massive potential of animal-borne sensors to teach us about oceans," said study le author David March from University of Exeter.

"This is alrey happening on a limited scale, but re's scope for much more," March said.

researchers looked at 183 species -- including tuna, sharks, rays, whales and flying seabirds -- and areas y inhabit.

"We have processed more than 1.5 million measurements from floating sensors to identify poorly sampled areas (18.6 per cent of global ocean surface)," March said.

study identified poorly sampled areas where data from animal sensors would help fill gaps.

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Could enhance ocean monitoring

researchers found se areas by comparing data from floating measurements with gaps in current observations.

"se include seas near poles (above 60-degree latitude) and shallow and coastal areas where Argo profilers are at risk of hitting land," said Brendan Godley, study co-author from University of Exeter.

" Caribbean and seas around Indonesia, as well as or semi-enclosed seas, are good examples of places where Argo profilers struggle because of se problems," Godley said.

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Tagged seals in poles have alrey complimented ocean observing systems because y can reach areas under ice that are inaccessible to or instruments.

According to study, data collected by turtles or sharks could also enhance ocean monitoring in or remote and critical areas like tropics where re is a large influence on global climate variability and wear.

"It is important to te that animal welfare is paramount and we are only suggesting that animals that are alrey being tracked for ethically defensible and conservation-relevant ecological research be recruited as oceagraphers. We do t vocate for animals being tracked solely for oceagraphy," Godley said

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