Research in New Zealand
MCAS February 2026 Zoom Community Program
Date: Monday, February 16th, 2026, 7:00 pm
Title: Sounds in the Ocean: From Ventriloquist Lobsters to Dancing Crabs
Presenter: Marie Goeritz, Ph.D.
Join Zoom Meeting Zoom Meeting ID: 945 8534 6079; Passcode: 576791
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Description:
When we think of sounds in the ocean, we think of whales and dolphins, but the underwater soundscape is far richer and more diverse than that. In this presentation, Marie Goeritz will explore the hidden world of animal-generated sound beneath the waves, with a special focus on invertebrates. From snapping shrimp to crabs and lobsters, many animals produce and respond to sound in ways that shape their behavior and interactions with their environment. Drawing on examples from across the marine world and insights from her own research, Dr. Goeritz will introduce how crustaceans use the ocean’s soundscape as a sensory cue for orientation, how they generate sound, how they detect and respond to it, and how they even use sound in courtship-like dances during mating.
Bio:
Dr. Marie Goeritz is a neurobiologist and educator whose work explores how animals sense and interact with their environments. She earned her Ph.D. in Zoology and has conducted research at the University of Cologne, Cornell University, Brandeis University, and the University of Auckland. Her research is focused on the nervous systems of crustaceans, linking neurophysiology and anatomy with behavior and ecology. Dr. Goeritz currently teaches biology at Cuesta College and serves on the Board of Directors of the Morro Coast Audubon Society as Lands Chair. In her free time, she enjoys music, camera trapping, wildlife photography and being on or near the water.
If you have questions, email Wendy McKeown, Community Programs Chair: CommPrograms@morrocoastaudubon.org.
