Nanning: Scientists in southern China have developed a low-cost method to monitor endangered Bryde’s whales by combining earthquake-monitoring equipment with artificial intelligence, a breakthrough that could improve marine conservation efforts and reveal new insights into whale behavior.
The study, published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, found that land-based seismic sensors can detect low-frequency whale calls and help researchers track the presence of Bryde’s whales in the Beibu Gulf of the South China Sea for longer periods than previously documented.
The research was led by Xiao Zhuo, an associate professor at Guangxi Minzu University, who worked with marine scientists and earthquake monitoring authorities to analyze seismic data collected from Xieyang Island near Beihai city in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
Using a deep-learning model trained on more than 1.7 million labeled seismic samples, researchers were able to identify whale calls with an accuracy rate of 99 percent.
New insights into whale migration
According to the study, the system detected Bryde’s whale calls from January through July, suggesting the animals remain in local waters for several months longer than earlier visual surveys had indicated.
Previous observations suggested the whales typically left the area by April. However, the seismic recordings revealed continued activity throughout the summer months, with whale calls peaking during February and March before gradually declining later in the year.
Researchers said the findings provide valuable information about the migration and seasonal presence of one of China’s most important whale populations.
Turning earthquake sensors into marine monitoring tools
The project originated through collaboration between marine biologists and seismic monitoring specialists seeking new ways to study marine life.
Unlike traditional whale monitoring methods that rely on boat surveys or underwater microphones, the seismic system operates continuously from land-based stations connected to existing power and data networks.
Scientists found that low-frequency whale vocalizations travel through the seabed and into the island’s crust, where they can be recorded as small ground vibrations by sensitive seismometers.
The signals captured ranged between 5 and 15 hertz, frequencies that are below the range of human hearing and difficult for many conventional monitoring systems to detect.
Conservation benefits
The waters around Xieyang and Weizhou islands are home to China’s only known stable inshore population of Bryde’s whales and one of the largest documented coastal groups of the species globally.
Researchers said the ability to monitor whale presence around the clock could help conservation efforts by providing more accurate information about migration patterns, habitat use, and periods of peak activity.
According to official data cited in the study, more than 70 Bryde’s whales have been identified in the region in recent years, compared with only 10 recorded in 2018.
The research team said existing seismic monitoring networks on islands and in coastal regions could potentially be adapted for marine conservation projects elsewhere, providing a cost-effective tool for long-term wildlife monitoring.
Also Read: Chinese businessman survives seven days adrift at sea after accidental fall
Today's E-Paper