Mapping the seafloor is a delicate and expensive task, and some Australian researchers have considered trying to collect data with the help of seals. Eight Australian sea lions (Neophoca cinerea) They attached underwater cameras and position indicators to their bodies and then let the animals go about their daily lives.
the Using recordings So it was not only possible to learn more about their way of life, but also to discover previously unknown coral reefs, and it became clear how diverse the wildlife is in some places. It seems that it could be a very useful tool for mapping large areas, according to the specialists leading the research. Conversation On its columns.
The researchers used seals between December 2022 and August 2023. They selected mother seals that regularly returned from hunting to the same spot, to their pups remaining on the beach.
Small, flat, lightweight cameras were applied to the animals' back hair with the help of a special glue, and then during each hunting trip (which lasted 2-6 days) the area covered and GPS data of their trip was recorded. Recorded. When the seal returned, the camera was released.
The data obtained was processed with the help of computer models and combined, for example, with temperature, depth or nutrient data for an area. In total, the researchers obtained data from a previously unknown marine area of 5,000 square kilometers. With the help of computer models and machine learning, the specialists produced maps of the continental shelf around Australia for a larger area, where different marine habitats can be seen.
Not only do seals cover vast areas in a short time, they also reach places we would not otherwise know about. Mapping with their help requires much less cost and human resources than working with a submersible robot from a research vessel.
In addition, the Australian sea lion is an endangered species, with a population of about . 60 percent lost in the past four decades. For this reason, we also need to learn as much about their way of life as possible – and these recordings help us a lot in this task as well. We can understand how the predator sees its environment, and this can contrast with the dominant human-centered views of the past.
