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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Are acoustic indices useful for monitoring urban biodiversity?

Urban Ecosystems, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 27(5), P. 1975 - 1981

Published: June 3, 2024

Language: Английский

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An Exploration of Ecoacoustics and its Applications in Conservation Ecology

Biosystems, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 245, P. 105296 - 105296

Published: Aug. 15, 2024

Language: Английский

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Acoustic indices track local vertebrate biodiversity in a subtropical landscape

Ecological Indicators, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 166, P. 112292 - 112292

Published: June 28, 2024

• The diversity of terrestrial vertebrates was ground-truthed with robust inventories. ACI, BIO, and M indices were significantly correlated vertebrate diversity. Acoustic tracked both vocal non-vocal taxa. Vertebrate community composition presented a correlation index rho = -0.85 ACI. In the current biodiversity crisis, ecologists grapple formidable task monitoring spatial temporal trends in biodiversity. Ecoacoustics, or soundscape studies, leverage sound energy properties to characterize environmental aspects over time space are promising tools search for cost-effective methods monitoring. However, potential ecoacoustics can only be realized if ecoacoustic (EIs) summarizing ecosystems demonstrably reliably reflect observed on ground. this study we assessed between seven widely used EIs three survey-based diversity: species richness, Shannon's composition. Utilizing standard field (censusing, trapping, etc.) richness abundance, surveyed local at eight sites heterogeneous subtropical landscape while recording soundscapes each site. We calculated from samples bird, amphibian, reptile, mammal guilds, how well different aggregation EI known addition an them aggregated their values five frames (morning, evening, winter, spring, summer, all recordings). Out 15 combinations arising exploration dimensions four taxa overall diversity, 13 significant correlations least one EI. Three indices, "Bioacoustics index", "Acoustic Complexity' "Median amplitude envelope" analyzed groups, highlighting value. Importantly, frame aggregating influenced relationships across guilds aspects. demonstrate that appropriate scale accurately track various communities vertebrates, supporting use caution researchers conservationists detailed empirical assessments relation still required scales continue developing reliable acoustic will state

Language: Английский

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Avian Diversity Monitoring in Mountain Beech Forests using Acoustic Indices: a Case Study in the Belasitsa Nature Park, Bulgaria

Acta Zoologica Bulgarica, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 76(3)

Published: June 8, 2024

Acoustic methods are widely used to study bird communities. They particularly helpful in remote and hard reachable regions. In this study, we evaluated four acoustic indices (Acoustic Complexity Index, Diversity Evenness Index Bioacoustic Index) for biodiversity assessment mountain beech (Fagus sylvatica) forests inside Belasitsa Nature Park, Bulgaria. We twelve autonomous recording units deployed each three forest types: old-growth Kongura Reserve, mature managed (80–130 years of age) premature (50–60 age). First, verified that there were correlations between the species richness detected by manual spectrogram scanning listening series 3-min sound samples. Then, compared values among types, finding higher abundance forests. found no significant difference composition but more hole-nesting birds conservation concern identified old demonstrated could be avian diversity monitoring management

Language: Английский

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Characterizing acoustic dimensions of health-related urban greenspace

Ecological Indicators, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 166, P. 112547 - 112547

Published: Aug. 29, 2024

The association of urban greenspace and human health well-being is widely recognised, but the underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. acoustic environment (AE) frequently proposed as a mediator between health. While it commonly viewed negative factor (e.g. noise pollution), there growing evidence that also has positive effects on However, general problem lack information AE for greenspaces in high spatial resolution. To provide evidence-based support research this issue, we identify assess properties health-related by estimating green area selected indices. analysis based 5-minute audio recordings collected systematically from 730 locations, four times year (n = 2,746) Bochum, Germany. quantify properties, use an indicator-set 30 sound pressure levels, 11 eco-, 78 psychoacoustic indices 3 complex network measures. Greenspace defined, alignment with various studies, percentage within three buffer sizes (50, 100, 300 m) around each recording location. Through cluster analysis, eleven dimensions our indicator-set, which representative derived using principal component analysis. Descriptive statistics multi-level regression models used to analyse associations greenspace. We find highest effect Link Density (representing "acoustic dominance"), Acoustic Richness "persistent volume") Articulation Index "sound volume"). Thus, addition volume", characterised similar extent at least two additional dimensions. If act mediators health, these hold potential reflect them. Studies pathways could incorporate measures extend understanding AE's relevance Public Health.

Language: Английский

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The acoustic complexity index (ACI): theoretical foundations, applied perspectives and semantics

Oikos, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Oct. 28, 2024

The acoustic complexity index (ACI) is a commonly used metric in ecoacoustics, demonstrating reliability across diverse environments and ecological conditions. However, this requires specific procedures to be applied correctly. Based on the Canberra metric, ACI an unsupervised formulated extract information from fast Fourier transform (FFT) sonic matrices. measures contiguous differences energy of each frequency bin along temporal steps (ACI tf ) interval bins ft ). Aggregating data after FFT with clumping procedure allows for better scaling signals before computing ACI. A filter must reduce effects nonenvironmental produced by microphone electrical noise . Due singularity values 0, ad hoc exclude element pairs which one elements equal 0 comparisons. spectral signatures are vectors obtained sequence values, respectively. comparison between using chord distance returns dissimilarities, allowing evaluation patterns at different spatial resolutions. Sonic variability, evenness, effective number further derivative metrics that help interpret heterogeneity distinguishing sonoscapes. Moreover, paper proposes changing terminology ‘acoustic index' ‘sonic index.'

Language: Английский

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Ranging Behavior of Philippine Tarsiers (Carlito syrichta) Inhabiting a Protected Forest Fragment in Misamis Oriental, Mindanao: Implications for Monitoring Nocturnal Primates

International Journal of Primatology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Nov. 11, 2024

Language: Английский

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