3 years after installing Reef Stars, there is a restored reef. The Ocean Agency has credit.
The success of a coral reef restoration project is demonstrated by the sounds of hoots, croaks, growls and foghorns.
Thousands of square meters of coral are being grown on previously destroyed reefs in Indonesia, but it was not clear if these new corals would revive the entire reef.
A new study led by researchers from the University of Bristol and the University of Exeter has found a heathy, diverse soundscape on the restored reefs.
Many of the sounds that have never been recorded before can be used to monitor these vital ecosystems.
The Mars Coral Reef Restoration Project, which is growing coral in central Indonesia, is one of the projects that can be successful at growing coral.
The study shows that restoration works for the other reef creatures as well, and we've documented the return of a diverse range of animals.
Some of the sounds we recorded are new to us as scientists.
We don't know what they mean and the animals that are making them. It's amazing to be able to hear the system come back to life.
The diversity of sounds is similar to those of existing healthy reefs, suggesting a healthy and functioning environment.
There were more fish sounds recorded on healthy and restored reefs.
The monitoring program for the Mars Coral Reef Restoration Project used acoustic recordings.
The results are positive for the project's approach, in which hexagonal metal frames called 'Reef Stars' areseeded with coral and laid over a large area. The revival of the wider environment can be traced back to the Reef Stars stabilizing loose rubble.
Mochyudho Prasetya said that they have been restoring and monitoring the reefs for many years. It is amazing to see that our work is helping the reefs.
The reef has a better chance of becoming self-sustaining when the sounds come back like this, said Professor David Smith.
Climate change and water pollution are just some of the threats facing coral reefs.
Reef restoration can work, but it's only one part of a solution that must include rapid action on climate change and other threats to reefs worldwide.
The paper "The sound of recovery: coral reef restoration success is visible in the soundscape" was published today in the Journal of Applied Ecology.
The sound of recovery: coral reef restoration success is visible in the soundscape. There is a book called 10.1111/1365-2664.14089.
The Journal of Applied Ecology has journal information.
The newly discovered fish songs demonstrate reef restoration success.
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