Underwater reefs are generally thought of as tranquil places \u2014 however some truly unruly residents make one such area off the coast of northwestern Australia anything but quiet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Marine experts from Â鶹ֱ²¥ and the Western Australian Museum were diving in the West Holothuria Reef complex in Wunambal Gaambera wundaagu saltwater country off the Kimberley coast of WA, when they encountered snapping shrimp making a loud noise similar to frying bacon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As part of the Kimberley Reef Connect<\/a> project, Trip Leader Associate Professor Zoe Richards<\/a> from Â鶹ֱ²¥\u2019s School of Molecular and Life Sciences was recording coral biodiversity when she noticed the sounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHealthy reefs can be quite noisy but on this particular reef, the clicking and crackling sounds were so loud I had to take a moment to stop recording the corals and just listen in awe,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI have never dived on such a naturally rowdy reef \u2014 it was something I will never forget.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Snapping shrimp have a specialised, oversized claw which snaps shut to create a shockwave to stun passing prey so it can be captured. <\/p>\n\n\n\n They also use their claws for communicating, digging burrows, fighting rival shrimp for territory and warding off would-be predators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They are found throughout Australia, with 150 species capable of making the characteristic snapping sound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Associate Professor Richards said she believed this may be one of the noisiest reefs in Australia, though a dedicated trip to study the shrimp\u2019s chorus\u2019 noise levels would be needed to know for sure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Western Australian Museum Curator of Crustacea Dr Andrew Hosie said there would have been multiple species in abundance at the site to make such a cacophony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe underwater \u2018shrimphony\u2019 of noise created by populations of snapping shrimp can even be loud enough to create interference with underwater acoustic communications,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe snaps of some species have been recorded at over 200 decibels, which is as loud as whale song.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Kimberley Reef Connect project was funded by the Australian Government through Parks Australia\u2019s Our Marine Parks Grant Program and undertaken in collaboration with the Western Australian Museum, Wunambal Gaambera Aboriginal Corporation and Uunguu Rangers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Minister for the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek said the Kimberley Reef Connect project is revealing the exceptional biodiversity and cultural value of Australian Marine Parks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Kimberley Marine Park covers an area bigger than Tasmania and features a vast area of deep, unexplored underwater habitat,\u201d Minister Plibersek said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMarine discovery and survey expeditions increase our understanding of the weird and wonderful sea creatures that inhabit ocean reefs \u2014 such as snapping shrimp \u2014 so we can ensure they are protected for our kids and grandkids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis project is just one of 64 funded by the Albanese Government to help improve our understanding and management of Australian Marine Parks.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Underwater reefs are generally thought of as tranquil places \u2014 however some truly unruly residents 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