Applications of environmental DNA (eDNA) in ecology and conservation: opportunities, challenges and prospects

Biodiversity and Conservation, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 29(7), P. 2089 - 2121

Published: April 8, 2020

Language: Английский

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Guidelines for the use of acoustic indices in environmental research

Methods in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 10(10), P. 1796 - 1807

Published: July 4, 2019

Abstract Ecoacoustics, the study of environmental sound, is a growing field with great potential for biodiversity monitoring. Audio recordings could provide rapid, cost‐effective monitoring tool offering novel insights into ecosystem dynamics. More than 60 acoustic indices have been developed to date, which reflect distinct attributes soundscape, (i.e. total energy at given location, including noise produced by animals, machinery, wind and rain). However, reported patterns in contradictory, possibly because there no accepted best practice collection analysis audio recordings. Here, we propose: (a) guidelines designing studies using rapid assessment multiple sites; (b) workflow comparing seven most commonly used indices, permitting discrimination among habitat‐specific soundscapes. We collected analysed over 26,000 hr from 117 sites across range habitats human‐modified tropical landscape central Panama; an order magnitude more previously published studies. demonstrate that: Standard error variance stabilizes within 120 single location. Continuous recording should be rather subsample on schedule; sub sampling common but delays capture site variability maximizing duration prioritized. (c) Use describe soundscape reveals diel seasonal habitats. advocate collecting least continuous per site, categorize Acoustic Complexity Index, Evenness Entropy Index Normalized Difference Soundscape Index. Differences habitat types can captured if are used, often important mean values. The will enable successful use ecoacoustic techniques

Language: Английский

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AudioMoth: A low-cost acoustic device for monitoring biodiversity and the environment

HardwareX, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 6, P. e00073 - e00073

Published: July 17, 2019

Environmental sound is a powerful data source for investigating ecosystem health. To capture it, scientists commonly use ruggedized, but expensive acoustic monitoring equipment. In this paper we fully describe the hardware build of low-cost, small, full-spectrum alternative, called AudioMoth. The credit-card sized device consists printed circuit board, micro-controller and micro-electro-mechanical systems microphone. This simple to construct facilitates: (1) deployments in remote locations, with small size mechanism that allows it be retrofitted into numerous low-cost ruggedized enclosures; (2) long-term monitoring, low-power operation; (3) modular expansion, easy access general purpose input output pins; (4) detection, onboard processing power.

Language: Английский

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Potential for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) Applications in Biodiversity Conservation, Managing Forests, and Related Services in India

Sustainability, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 14(12), P. 7154 - 7154

Published: June 10, 2022

The recent advancement in data science coupled with the revolution digital and satellite technology has improved potential for artificial intelligence (AI) applications forestry wildlife sectors. India shares 7% of global forest cover is 8th most biodiverse region world. However, rapid expansion developmental projects, agriculture, urban areas threaten country’s rich biodiversity. Therefore, adoption new technologies like AI Indian forests biodiversity sectors can help effective monitoring, management, conservation resources. We conducted a systematic search literature related to application machine learning algorithms (ML) sector across globe (using ISI Web Science Google Scholar). Additionally, we also collected on AI-based startups non-profits understand growth conservation, services. Here, first provide overview research conservation. Next, discuss challenges Overall, find that been slow compared developed, other developing countries. improving access big biodiversity, cloud computing, improve India. hope this synthesis will motivate officials, scientists, conservationists explore management.

Language: Английский

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Passive acoustic monitoring provides a fresh perspective on fundamental ecological questions

Functional Ecology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 37(4), P. 959 - 975

Published: Jan. 20, 2023

Abstract Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) has emerged as a transformative tool for applied ecology, conservation and biodiversity monitoring, but its potential contribution to fundamental ecology is less often discussed, PAM studies tend be descriptive, rather than mechanistic. Here, we chart the most promising directions ecologists wishing use suite of currently available methods address long‐standing questions in explore new avenues research. In both terrestrial aquatic habitats, provides an opportunity ask across multiple spatial scales at fine temporal resolution, capture phenomena or species that are difficult observe. combination with traditional approaches data collection, could release from myriad limitations have, times, precluded mechanistic understanding. We discuss several case demonstrate estimation, population trend analysis, assessing climate change impacts on phenology distribution, understanding disturbance recovery dynamics. also highlight what horizon PAM, terms near‐future technological methodological developments have provide advances coming years. Overall, illustrate how can harness power ecological era no longer characterised by limitation. Read free Plain Language Summary this article Journal blog.

Language: Английский

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Rapid assessment of avian species richness and abundance using acoustic indices

Ecological Indicators, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 115, P. 106400 - 106400

Published: April 18, 2020

Accelerating global shifts in climate and land use change are altering natural habitats species assemblages, making management interventions crucial to halt the biodiversity crisis. Management decisions must be informed by accurate assessments. However, such assessments often time consuming, expensive, require specialist knowledge. Monitoring environmental sound may offer a novel method for rapid assessment. Changes assemblages at given location reflected site's acoustic energy, termed soundscape. Soundscapes can readily described using indices; metrics based on objective features of recordings as pitch amplitude. indices values therefore reflect changes alerting managers wildlife populations. thus far, evidence supporting monitoring has been equivocal. Here, we test practical application while solving methodological issues providing conceptual clarity. Using 84 h audio covering 315 dawns from 43 sites, coupled with bird assemblage vegetation data collected field, demonstrate strong relationships between avian richness abundance. In contrast many previous studies, found that sites high species-richness abundance had less even soundscapes (i.e. energy was evenly distributed among frequencies) compared low Crucially, these patterns were coherent across multiple indices, habitat types, emphasising their utility monitoring. Acoustic sensitive frequencies which birds sing most useful communities; Evenness Index, Biophony biophony component Normalised Difference Soundscape Index exhibited strongest relationship richness. Land monitoring, complementing other, more established, assessment methods.

Language: Английский

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Automated bioacoustics: methods in ecology and conservation and their potential for animal welfare monitoring

Journal of The Royal Society Interface, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 16(155), P. 20190225 - 20190225

Published: June 1, 2019

Vocalizations carry emotional, physiological and individual information. This suggests that they may serve as potentially useful indicators for inferring animal welfare. At the same time, automated methods analysing classifying sound have developed rapidly, particularly in fields of ecology, conservation scene classification. These are already used to automatically classify vocalizations, example, identifying species estimating numbers individuals. Despite this potential, not yet found widespread application welfare monitoring. In review, we first discuss current trends analysis Following this, detail vocalizations produced by three most important farm livestock species: chickens ( Gallus gallus domesticus), pigs Sus scrofa domesticus) cattle Bos taurus). Finally, describe how these can be applied monitor with new potential developing large-scale farming.

Language: Английский

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Deep learning for environmental conservation

Current Biology, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 29(19), P. R977 - R982

Published: Oct. 1, 2019

Language: Английский

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Acoustic indices perform better when applied at ecologically meaningful time and frequency scales

Methods in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 12(3), P. 421 - 431

Published: Oct. 30, 2020

Abstract Acoustic indices are increasingly employed in the analysis of soundscapes to ascertain biodiversity value. However, conflicting results and lack consensus on best practices for their usage has hindered application conservation land‐use management contexts. Here we propose that sensitivity acoustic ecological change fidelity communities negatively impacted by signal masking. Signal masking can occur when responses taxa sensitive effect interest masked less‐sensitive groups, or target sonification is non‐target noise. We argue calculating at ecologically appropriate time frequency bins, effects be reduced efficacy increased. test this a large dataset collected Eastern Amazonia spanning disturbance gradient undisturbed, logged, burned, logged‐and‐burned secondary forests. calculated values two indices: Complexity Index Bioacoustic Index, across entire spectrum (0–22.1 kHz), four narrower subsets spectrum; dawn, day, dusk night. show impact forest classes. Calculating range time–frequency bins substantially increases classification accuracy classes random models. Furthermore, led misleading correlations, including spurious inverse between indicator metrics index compared correlations derived from manual sampling audio data. Consequently, recommend either single narrow bin, predetermined priori understanding soundscape.

Language: Английский

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Future restoration should enhance ecological complexity and emergent properties at multiple scales

Ecography, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 2022(4)

Published: Dec. 7, 2021

Ecological restoration has a paradigm of re‐establishing ‘indigenous reference' communities. One resulting concern is that focussing on target communities may not necessarily create systems which function at high level or are resilient in the face ongoing global change. complexity – defined here, based theory, as number components system and connections among them provides complementary aim, can be measured directly several advantages. encompasses key ecosystem variables including structural heterogeneity, trophic interactions functional diversity. also assessed landscape scale, with metrics β diversity, heterogeneity habitat patches connectivity. Thus, applies, measured, multiple scales. Importantly, linked to emergent properties, e.g. functions resilience, there evidence both enhanced by complexity. We suggest ecology should consider new restore scales, particular individual ecosystems across landscapes. A approach make use certain current methods but encompass newer concepts such rewilding. Indeed, goal might many cases best achieved interventionist methods. Incorporating into policies could quite straightforward. Related aims enhancing services ecological resilience fore initiatives Sustainable Development Goals Intergovernmental Science‐Policy Platform Biodiversity Ecosystem Services. Implementation policy practice will need development applied local regional Ultimately, adoption an acceptance unprecedented environmental change requires ways doing fit for future.

Language: Английский

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