I’ve been listening to seagrass meadows to understand how their underwater soundscapes reflect biodiversity

The rugged west coast of Scotland looks glorious in the sunshine. The turquoise sea is calm but even in July, it’s a chilly 12°C. Armed with my recording kit, snorkelling equipment and my thick wetsuit, I’ve been listening to the marine creatures living in three different Scottish seagrass meadows.

For my marine ecology PhD, I’m investigating the biodiversity of Scottish seagrass meadows which, right now in midsummer, are in full bloom. Unlike seaweed, this marine plant has got flowers...