Photo of Michelle Fournet of the EOS Center for Acoustics Research and Education.

Michelle Fournet

Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor, Marine Bioacoustics
Phone: (603) 862-4834
Office: Dept of Biological Sciences, Spaulding Hall Rm 250, Durham, NH 03824
Pronouns: She/her/hers

Dr. Michelle Fournet is an acoustic ecologist who uses sound to investigate the interactions between marine organisms and human activities. This includes:

- Investigating how marine organisms use sound to facilitate vital life functions (animal communication);
- Investigating the potential impact of anthropogenic noise and climate change on marine species and environments (anthropogenic impacts), and
- investigating how sound can be used as an indicator of ecosystem health (acoustic indicators).

The overarching goal of the Marine Bioacoustics and Behavior Lab (Sea BABEL) is to use bioacoustics as a tool to further conservation and to assess species’ resilience to changing oceans. Much of Dr. Fournet’s work focuses on Arctic and sub-Arctic marine mammals including cetaceans and pinnipeds; she also studies the acoustics of sub-tropical fishes.

Students that are interested in joining Sea BABEL are encouraged to look through Dr. Fournet’s lab website before reaching out to her directly by email.

Courses Taught

  • BIOL 999: Doctoral Dissertation Research
  • BIOL/MEFB 828/795: Marine Bioacoustics
  • MEFB 503: Introduction to Marine Biology

Education

  • Ph.D., Wildlife Biology, Oregon State University

Research Interests

  • Acoustics
  • Animal behavior
  • Animal Communication
  • Climate Change - Impacts
  • Human Dimensions of Climate Change
  • Marine and Ocean Sciences
  • Marine Biology
  • Marine Resources Conservation
  • Ocean Acoustics

Selected Publications

  • Fournet, M. E. H., Stabenau, E., & Rice, A. N. (2019). Relationship between salinity and sonic fish advertisement behavior in a managed sub-tropical estuary: Making the case for an acoustic indicator species. ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS, 106. doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2019.105531