Diving in the waters off the Bahamas sounds idyllic, but a group of scientists isn't doing it to relax. They're on a mission to learn more about endangered whales, and they're doing it by collecting whale poop.
The team of snorkeling scientists is hoping to use whales' feces to learn how noise pollution in the area has affected these massive mammals. Their work is being funded by the U.S. Navy, which for years has supported this kind of research into the environmental effects of its underwater activities.
Ocean noise could be a hidden danger to marine creatures. "Pings" from military and fishing sonar, the low-frequency drone of constant shipping traffic, the booming of offshore seismic exploration and the sounds of recreational boat traffic all make the ocean much noisier than it once was. For marine species that rely on sound to hunt and communicate, this background noise could be making it harder to find food or each other and could raise stress levels, affecting their health or reproduction.
To read the full, original article click on this link: Divers Scoop Up Whale Poop to Save Species | Ocean Noise Pollution Hurting Bahamas Whales, Endangered Species | Our Amazing Planet
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