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https://reasonstobecheerful.world/protect-rainforests-biodiversity-bioacoustics-research/>
"It is early morning on the island of Borneo in east Malaysia, and the ancient
rainforest is coming to life after the relative quiet of the night. It’s a
veritable orchestra: the melodious music of a pair of gibbons, a warning
trumpet from a solitary pygmy elephant, the rhythmic hooting of a helmeted
hornbill, the rustling of dry leaves from an orangutan swinging high up in the
trees.
In the midst of these routine, reassuring sounds, other sounds filter through.
There is an unfamiliar chirp — a new species of bird? Occasionally, there comes
a noise that does not belong in this ecosystem — perhaps the insistent buzz of
a chainsaw? There may even be moments of silence, a sign of disruption in the
usually bustling habitat.
The tropical rainforests of Malaysia are among the world’s oldest and richest
in biodiversity. They are home to thousands of species of plants, insects,
birds, mammals and reptiles, many of which have still not been studied
adequately, or even discovered. And many of them are hurtling toward
“threatened” or “endangered” status on the International Union for Conservation
of Nature’s red list.
Scientists and researchers continuously monitor the flora and fauna in these
jungles in order to ensure that the ecosystem remains healthy — in the face of
threats from both natural disturbances and anthropogenic pressures (including
climate change).
Now, they’ve added a new and effective tool to their arsenal: listening.
Through bioacoustics research, researchers are tuning in to the sounds of the
rainforests in Borneo and peninsular Malaysia to better understand and protect
their biodiversity."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
