Sea Lions with Cameras Help Scientists Study Ocean Seabeds

Only 25% of the seafloors of the world’s vast oceans have been mapped. Far less than that has been physically explored by humans. But sea lions off the coast of Australia are now doing their part to help scientists get a glimpse of those deep ocean waters.

Marine researchers strapped small cameras to eight adult female sea lions and captured hours of video footage. The sea lions helped the team see along the seabed of the Southern Ocean. The lightweight cameras also include GPS units and sensors. The data gathered should help marine biologists and others with conservation efforts. But it also reveals new secrets about ocean floors.

So far, the footage has allowed researchers to identify six distinct benthic habitats and new reefs. The research team is from the University of Adelaide and the South Australian Research and Development Institute. They’ve seen diverse seafloor habitats. Those include kelp reefs, sand plains, sponge gardens, and invertebrate reefs. They have also been able to find their nutrient supplies. 

Nathan Angelakis called the footage “awe-inspiring.” He's the study's lead author. “It’s amazing the number of things we see,” he told The Washington Post. They’ve witnessed sea lions flipping over rocks on the seabed to catch octopuses. And they've seen sea lions swimming with their pups to teach them to forage.  

Exploring the ocean’s seabeds is difficult and costly. Research teams often use robots. But poor weather and remote marine areas limit how much can be explored.   

And how have Australian sea lions been doing? Their population has declined by more than 60% over the past 40 years. That's mostly due to hunting and getting caught in fishing lines. Only about 10,000 remain across 80 breeding sites.    

Reflect: What do you think we can learn by observing how animals live in their natural habitats?

Photo of a sea lion from Unsplash courtesy of Seri.