Ecosondas

Ecosondas is a term used in environmental monitoring to describe autonomous or semi-autonomous sensing devices designed to study aquatic ecosystems. The name combines ecology and sondas (probes), reflecting the use of probe-like instruments to collect data across water columns, sediments, and biota. In practice, ecosondas are modular instruments that can be deployed as fixed moorings, drifting arrays, or carried by autonomous underwater vehicles.

Design and capabilities: Most ecosondas integrate multiple sensing modalities, including hydroacoustic or optical sensors for biomass and plankton, chemical sensors for salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and pollutants, and physical sensors for currents and turbidity. They often include onboard data loggers, power sources (batteries or energy harvesting), and communication systems, such as acoustic modems or satellite links at the surface. Networks of ecosondas enable spatiotemporal sampling with higher resolution than traditional single-point stations. Data products are typically integrated into coastal or ocean observing systems.

Deployment and applications: Ecosondas support biodiversity assessments, habitat mapping, migration studies, fisheries management, and pollution tracking. They are used in oceans, seas, lakes, and estuaries, sometimes in protected areas where continuous sampling would be costly or disruptive. The approach emphasizes non-invasive, long-term monitoring and open data sharing.

Challenges and development: Key challenges include ensuring energy efficiency, sensor calibration, biofouling, data management, and maintaining communication in harsh environments. Ongoing research focuses on improving sensor integration, autonomy, and interoperability with other environmental sensing networks. Related topics include underwater sensor networks, hydroacoustics, and environmental monitoring.