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A captivating exploration of how underwater animals tap into sound to survive, and a clarion call for humans to address the ways we threaten this critical soundscape, from an award-winning science writer.
For centuries humans ignored sound in the "silent world" of the ocean, assuming where we couldn't perceive a universe, one didn't exist. But we couldn't have been more wrong. Only recently have marine scientists, with the help of sophisticated technology, been able to accurately record and study the complex interplay of the myriad sounds under the sea: how these sounds help marine life to survive, depending on currents, the seafloor, surface, temperature and salinity, and how the interference of humans can determine the nature of entire ecosystems.
From plainfin midshipman, whose swim-bladder-drumming is loud enough to keep humans awake, to the syntax of sperm whales, to the deafening crack of snapping shrimp, to underwater earthquakes and volcanoes, sound plays a vital role in feeding, mating, parenting, fleeing, and navigating. With new research synthesized by award-winning science journalist Amorina Kingdon, comes a clearer understanding of just how pervasive, and destructive, human noise is to the life of the sea. We jump in our motorboats and cruise ships, oblivious to the impact below us. Our goods arrive on massive cargo ships, and our way of life is sustained by giant oil tankers. Jets fly into seaside airports, the Navy deploys underwater sonar, and prospectors use seismic imaging to seek oil and gas under ocean floors. Our seas are literally booming with human-made sound, and it is killing sea life to the point of extinction.
With intimate and artful prose, “Sing Like Fish” tells a uniquely complete story of sound submerged, points to quieter solutions, and offers a profound new understanding of the world below the surface.
For centuries humans ignored sound in the "silent world" of the ocean, assuming where we couldn't perceive a universe, one didn't exist. But we couldn't have been more wrong. Only recently have marine scientists, with the help of sophisticated technology, been able to accurately record and study the complex interplay of the myriad sounds under the sea: how these sounds help marine life to survive, depending on currents, the seafloor, surface, temperature and salinity, and how the interference of humans can determine the nature of entire ecosystems.
From plainfin midshipman, whose swim-bladder-drumming is loud enough to keep humans awake, to the syntax of sperm whales, to the deafening crack of snapping shrimp, to underwater earthquakes and volcanoes, sound plays a vital role in feeding, mating, parenting, fleeing, and navigating. With new research synthesized by award-winning science journalist Amorina Kingdon, comes a clearer understanding of just how pervasive, and destructive, human noise is to the life of the sea. We jump in our motorboats and cruise ships, oblivious to the impact below us. Our goods arrive on massive cargo ships, and our way of life is sustained by giant oil tankers. Jets fly into seaside airports, the Navy deploys underwater sonar, and prospectors use seismic imaging to seek oil and gas under ocean floors. Our seas are literally booming with human-made sound, and it is killing sea life to the point of extinction.
With intimate and artful prose, “Sing Like Fish” tells a uniquely complete story of sound submerged, points to quieter solutions, and offers a profound new understanding of the world below the surface.