Mitigating bias in long‐term terrestrial ecoacoustic studies

Journal of Applied Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 14, 2025

Abstract Long‐term biodiversity monitoring is needed to track progress towards ambitious global targets reduce species loss and restore ecosystems. The recent development of cheap robust acoustic recording devices offers a cost‐effective means gathering standardised long‐term datasets. Accounting for sources bias in ecological research fundamental part the study design process. To highlight this issue context terrestrial ecoacoustic monitoring, here we collate discuss arising from (i) hardware devices, (ii) firmware, software analysis tools (iii) deployment environment. One important source unavoidable changes hardware—to demonstrate how potentially introduces bias, present two case studies comparing output simultaneous recordings different recorders. mitigate biases, recommend effective documentation environmental hardware‐related variables, as well data storage strategy that facilitates reanalysis. Additionally, use regular calibration tests measure variation detection space will facilitate analytical approaches or post‐hoc AI solutions remove unwanted biases. Synthesis applications : suggested mitigations described be relevance manufacturers, researchers conservation practitioners. Researchers practitioners must fully aware relevant biases when designing should incorporate appropriate into their design.

Language: Английский

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An ecoacoustic dataset collected on the island of Cyprus in the Mediterranean Basin biodiversity hotspot

Scientific Data, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 12(1)

Published: March 19, 2025

There is growing interest in using novel technologies for large-scale biodiversity monitoring. Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) represents a promising approach surveying vocalizing animals. However, further development of PAM methods needed to improve their accuracy. The availability extensive ecoacoustic datasets from biodiverse areas can facilitate this development. In study, we present large dataset (1.58 TB) collected at sixty-one study sites on the island Cyprus between March and May 2023. comprises >313,000 audio files, representing over 5,200 hours recordings. It be used range applications, such as developing refining species identification algorithms, indices, protocols processing data exclude non-focal sounds, e.g., those produced by human activities. also explore fundamental ecological questions. To its use, complete has been made available Hugging Face repository ARBIMON platform, operated Rainforest ConnectionTM, which offers free tools analyses.

Language: Английский

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Impact of acoustic index parameters on soundscape comparisons

Methods in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 21, 2025

Abstract Unprecedented ecosystem changes have prompted prioritisation of scalable and informative environmental monitoring. Ecoacoustics derives information from passive acoustic monitoring soundscapes as a proxy to describe ecological processes. Ecoacoustic indices are often used characterise specific aspects the environment, for example Acoustic Diversity Index potentially reflecting local biophony. Increasing application these raises concerns about relationship between soundscape index values. The need quantify their variance against validated traits is becoming more appreciated. For several commonly indices, impacts parameter settings sampling regimes on output values not been fully explored, despite potential bias results. To address this, we conducted three sensitivity analyses parameters. first explores raw Complexity at various settings, single recording. second models four common (Bioacoustics Complexity, Evenness Indexes) using Bayesian mixed effects two datasets how comparative differences change with settings. third effect pitch simulated animal calls indices. demonstrate that selection alone can influence magnitude direction difference outputs, in turn affecting interpretation. These also dependent data (e.g. frequency, target frequency bands). We provide insights into drivers recommendations better understand implications within‐ between‐study comparisons. Recommendations include identifying bands relevant research question, selecting parameters appropriately determine if influencing interpretation Further work required ecologically validate relationships soundscapes. Standardised methods needed identify scale which be resolved compared.

Language: Английский

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A soundscape approach for a short-term acoustic monitoring of a critically endangered Cuban frog

Biodiversity and Conservation, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 5, 2025

Language: Английский

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Testing the soundscape response to silvicultural interventions in a controlled before-and-after experiment

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 306, P. 111116 - 111116

Published: April 8, 2025

Language: Английский

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Unraveling Soundscape Dynamics: The Interaction Between Vegetation Structure and Acoustic Patterns

Sustainability, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 17(9), P. 4204 - 4204

Published: May 6, 2025

Ecoacoustics examines the interactions between soundscapes, ecological processes, and anthropogenic disturbance. Acoustic communication is crucial for wildlife, making noise pollution a key factor in shaping biodiversity, though its effects are also modulated by habitat characteristics. In this work, we assess influence of highway vegetation structure on soundscape avian distribution Moriano oxbow lake (Bereguardo, PV, Italy), Site Community Importance Ticino Valley Regional Park. A two-week monitoring campaign (April 2022) used eight recorders arranged grid to analyze dynamics through ecoacoustic indices (ACI, ADI, AEI, BI, NDSI, H, DSC, ZCR). Vegetation surveys quantified tree diversity structural parameters such as basal area, height, stem density, biomass, leaf cover. Correlation analyses revealed that Quercus robur abundance significantly influenced acoustic environment, while bird richness correlated positively with biomass presence. Highway proximity was structuring factor, (ADI, ACI) increasing distance. These findings underscore dual role soundscapes highlight importance incorporating features into assessments better understand biodiversity patterns anthropized landscapes.

Language: Английский

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Large-scale recovery in Costa Rica's Payment for Ecosystem Service Program

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Sept. 4, 2024

Abstract Costa Rica implemented the world’s first national-scale Payment for Ecosystem Service (PES) program in 1996 and now protects over 200,000 hectares. By distributing wealth towards local land-stewards, Rica’s has helped to limit deforestation at a national scale, but large-scale ecological implications have yet remained unclear. Here, we use massive ecoacoustic dataset evaluate how this impacted integrity of PES forests across entire Nicoya Peninsula. At times frequencies that are indicative native biological activity, reveal dramatic increases soundscapes, relative those natural protected areas. Specifically, regeneration sites were 97.79% more acoustically similar reference (absolute mean similarity 0.539) than they disturbed pastures, while acoustic recovery plantations lags behind (79.66%; 0.489). These findings strongly suggestive recovery, constituting some most robust evidence date restoration initiatives can benefit biodiversity on large spatial scales. Study overview pays landowners encourage forest compensate them opportunity costs. Most payments subsidize land ‘conservation’, which participants allow existing naturally regenerate. Some also offered produce timber through ‘plantations’, often monocultures exotic tree species. Despite program’s importance conservation efforts, little is known about whether these systems recovering their characteristics. To investigate dynamics program, recorded continuous 6-day soundscapes 119 Peninsula (Supplementary Figure 1). characterized 4 land-use types: (i) 19 (ii) 43 monoculture plantations, (iii) 39 sites, (iv) 18 forests. Sites from each type distributed Peninsula’s climate edaphic gradient, allowing us capture substantial variation outcomes. We determined areas space where animals vocalize responses likely be detected (Figure then identified what extent plantation had changed last 27 years. find regenerating within recovered substantially when compared forests, lag 3). Our reaffirm ecosystem conservation, suggesting redistributive policy mechanisms accelerate nature protection scale.

Language: Английский

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An ecoacoustic dataset collected on the island of Cyprus in the Mediterranean Basin biodiversity hotspot

Research Square (Research Square), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: June 26, 2024

There is growing interest in using novel technologies for large-scale biodiversity monitoring. Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) represents a promising approach surveying vocalizing animals. However, further development of PAM methods needed to improve their accuracy. The availability extensive ecoacoustic datasets from biodiverse areas can facilitate this development. In study, we present large dataset (1.58 TB) collected at sixty-one study sites on the island Cyprus between March and May 2023. comprises > 310,000 audio files, representing over 5,200 hours recordings. It be used range applications, such as developing refining species identification algorithms, indices, protocols processing data exclude non-focal sounds, e.g., those produced by human activities. also explore fundamental ecological questions. To its use, complete has been made available Hugging Face repository ARBIMON platform, operated Rainforest Connection™, which offers free tools analyses.

Language: Английский

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Acoustic indices as proxies for biodiversity in certified and non-certified cocoa plantations in Indonesia

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 197(1)

Published: Dec. 16, 2024

Language: Английский

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Continuous measurement of red wood ant (Formica rufa) outdoor behaviour using passive acoustic monitoring

European Journal of Soil Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 123, P. 103687 - 103687

Published: Oct. 22, 2024

Language: Английский

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