How to count bird calls? Vocal activity indices may provide different insights into bird abundance and behaviour depending on species traits

Methods in Ecology and Evolution, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 15(6), С. 1071 - 1083

Опубликована: Май 10, 2024

Abstract Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) has become an important tool for surveying birds, and there is a growing demand approaches to obtain abundance behavioural information from PAM recordings. Changes in bird populations have been assessed by counting recorded calls calculating the vocal activity rate (VAR, i.e. number of per recording time). However, could be counted various ways depending on species traits, these call counts give us different insights abundance, behaviour and/or habitat use. Our study had two goals: (1) present evaluate new indices based counts, detection (DR, 1‐min recordings which presence target vocalization detected) maximum count minute (MAX, found recording); (2) conceptual framework showing how interpretations VAR, DR MAX depend index traits. For three Neotropical with distinct we calculated data 25 sites Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico) that varied their degree anthropogenic disturbance. We moderate high correlations between higher temporal variability VAR compared MAX. also effect sizes disturbance indices. suggest might more reliable relative than whose calling exhibits cue may suitable estimating family or flock size gregarious birds. findings show potential usefulness developing generate ecological hypotheses assess changes behaviour.

Язык: Английский

---

Soundscape classification with convolutional neural networks reveals temporal and geographic patterns in ecoacoustic data

Ecological Indicators, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 138, С. 108831 - 108831

Опубликована: Апрель 5, 2022

Interest in ecoacoustics has resulted an influx of acoustic data and novel methodologies to classify relate landscape sound activity biodiversity ecosystem health. However, indicators used summarize quantify the effects disturbances on can be inconsistent when applied across ecological gradients. This study dataset 487,148 min from 746 sites collected over 4 years Sonoma County, California, USA, by citizen scientists. We built a custom labeled soundscape components deep learning framework test our ability predict these components: human noise (Anthropophony), wildlife vocalizations (Biophony), weather phenomena (Geophony), Quiet periods, microphone Interference. These allowed us balance predicting variation environmental recordings relative time build dataset. patterns space that could useful for planning, conservation restoration, monitoring. describe pre-trained convolutional neural network, fine-tuned with reference data, classification achieving overall F0.75-score 0.88, precision 0.94, recall 0.80 five target components. deployed model all assess their hourly patterns. noted increase Biophony early morning evening, coinciding peak animal community vocalization (e.g., dawn chorus). Anthropophony increased during morning/daylight hours was lowest evenings, diurnal activity. Further, we examined related geographic properties at recording sites. decreased increasing distance major roads, while increased. were comparable more urban/developed agriculture/barren sites, significantly higher than less-developed shrubland, oak woodland, conifer forest results demonstrate broad is possible small datasets, classifications large gain knowledge.

Язык: Английский

---

Paired acoustic recordings and point count surveys reveal Clark's nutcracker and whitebark pine associations across Glacier National Park

Ecology and Evolution, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 14(1)

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2024

Abstract Global declines in tree populations have led to dramatic shifts forest ecosystem composition, biodiversity, and functioning. These changes consequences for both plant wildlife communities, particularly when declining species are involved coevolved mutualisms. Whitebark pine ( Pinus albicaulis ) is a keystone western North American high‐elevation ecosystems an obligate mutualist of Clark's nutcracker Nucifraga columbiana ), avian seed predator disperser. By leveraging traditional point count surveys passive acoustic monitoring, we investigated how stand characteristics whitebark protected area (Glacier National Park, Montana, USA) influenced occupancy vocal activity patterns nutcracker. Using Bayesian spatial models generalized linear mixed models, found that habitat use was primarily supported by greater cone density increasing diameter live pine. Additionally, demonstrated the value performing parallel analyses with monitoring provide multiple lines evidence relationships between characteristics. Our findings allow managers gauge conditions important retaining high visitation prioritize management efforts low visitation.

Язык: Английский

---

Towards acoustic monitoring of bees: wingbeat sounds are related to species and individual traits

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 379(1904)

Опубликована: Май 5, 2024

Global pollinator decline urgently requires effective methods to assess their trends, distribution and behaviour. Passive acoustics is a non-invasive cost-efficient monitoring tool increasingly employed for animal communities. However, insect sounds remain highly unexplored, hindering the application of this technique pollinators. To overcome shortfall support future developments, we recorded characterized wingbeat variety Iberian domestic wild bees tested relationship with taxonomic, morphological, behavioural environmental traits at inter- intra-specific levels. Using directional microphones machine learning, shed light on acoustic signature bee potential be used species identification monitoring. Our results revealed that frequency negatively related body size temperature (between-species analysis), while it positively experimentally induced stress conditions (within-individual analysis). We also found characteristic in European honeybee supported automated classification from pool bees, paving way passive Overall, these findings confirm during flight activity can provide insights individual traits, hence suggest novel promising applications endangered group. This article part theme issue 'Towards toolkit global biodiversity monitoring'.

Язык: Английский

---

Using automated passive acoustic monitoring to measure changes in bird and bat vocal activity around hedgerows of different ages

Biological Conservation, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 296, С. 110722 - 110722

Опубликована: Июль 19, 2024

Hedgerows are a semi-natural habitat that supports farmland biodiversity by providing food, shelter, and connectivity. Hedgerow planting goals have been set across many countries in Europe agri-environment schemes (AES) play key role reaching these targets. Passive acoustic monitoring using automated vocalisation identification (automated PAM), offers valuable opportunity to assess changes following AES implementation simple, community-level metrics, such as vocal activity of birds bats. To evaluate whether could be used indicate the effectiveness hedgerow future result-based or hybrid schemes, we surveyed twenty-four hedgerows England classified into chrono-sequence three age categories (New, Young, Old). We recorded 4466 h over course 30 days measured bird bat BirdNET for Kaleidoscope Vocal all birds, bats were modelled with predictors hedgerow, habitat, weather conditions occurring from maturity. show an increase Young Old compared New ones highlight elements surrounding landscape should considered when evaluating on communities. found high precision low species-level observations, argue may novel link payment component PAM results, incentivising effective management farmers landowners.

Язык: Английский

---

A Quantitative Evaluation of the Performance of the Low-Cost AudioMoth Acoustic Recording Unit

Sensors, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 23(11), С. 5254 - 5254

Опубликована: Июнь 1, 2023

The AudioMoth is a popular autonomous recording unit (ARU) that widely used to record vocalizing species in the field. Despite its growing use, there have been few quantitative tests on performance of this recorder. Such information needed design effective field surveys and appropriately analyze recordings made by device. Here, we report results two designed evaluate characteristics First, performed indoor outdoor pink noise playback experiments how different device settings, orientations, mounting conditions, housing options affect frequency response patterns. We found little variation acoustic between devices relatively effect placing recorders plastic bag for weather protection. has mostly flat on-axis with boost above 3 kHz, generally omnidirectional suffers from attenuation behind recorder, an accentuated when it mounted tree. Second, battery life under variety frequencies, gain environmental temperatures, types. standard alkaline batteries last average 189 h at room temperature using 32 kHz sample rate, lithium can twice as long freezing temperatures compared batteries. This will aid researchers both collecting analyzing generated

Язык: Английский

---

Monitoring soil fauna with ecoacoustics

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 291(2030)

Опубликована: Сен. 1, 2024

Ecoacoustics—or acoustic ecology—aids in monitoring elusive and protected species several ecological contexts. For example, passive (PAM), which involves autonomous sensors, is widely used to detect various taxonomic groups terrestrial aquatic ecosystems, from birds bats fish cetaceans. Here, we illustrate the potential of ecoacoustics monitor soil biodiversity (specifically fauna)—a crucial endeavour given that 59% live yet 75% soils are affected by degradation. We describe sources sound (e.g. biological, geological anthropogenic) ability technology differentiate between these sounds, highlighting opportunities current gaps knowledge. also propose a roadmap for future development optimized hardware, analytical pipelines experimental approaches. Soil an emerging field with considerable improve ‘soil health’ diagnostics. Indeed, early studies suggest can be successfully applied ecosystems grasslands, temperate, tropical arid forests) land uses agriculture, viticulture, natural restored ecosystems). Given low cost, minimal intrusiveness, effectiveness supporting assessments biosecurity risks, advocate advancement management applications.

Язык: Английский

---

Automatic detection for bioacoustic research: a practical guide from and for biologists and computer scientists

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Год журнала: 2024, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Окт. 17, 2024

ABSTRACT Recent years have seen a dramatic rise in the use of passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) for biological and ecological applications, corresponding increase volume data generated. However, sets are often becoming so sizable that analysing them manually is increasingly burdensome unrealistic. Fortunately, we also computing power capability machine learning algorithms, which offer possibility performing some analysis required PAM automatically. Nonetheless, field automatic detection events still its infancy biology ecology. In this review, examine trends bioacoustic their implications burgeoning amount needs to be analysed. We explore different methods other tools scanning, analysing, extracting automatically from large volumes recordings. then provide step‐by‐step practical guide using bioacoustics. One biggest challenges greater bioacoustics there gulf expertise between sciences computer science. Therefore, review first presents an overview requirements bioacoustics, intended familiarise those science background with community, followed by introduction key elements artificial intelligence biologist understand incorporate into research. building pipeline data, conclude discussion possible future directions field.

Язык: Английский

---

Extending Our Scientific Reach in Arboreal Ecosystems for Research and Management

Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 4

Опубликована: Ноя. 8, 2021

The arboreal ecosystem is vitally important to global and local biogeochemical processes, the maintenance of biodiversity in natural systems, human health urban environments. ability collect samples, observations, data conduct meaningful scientific research similarly vital. primary methods modes access remain limited difficult. In an online survey, canopy researchers ( n = 219) reported a range challenges obtaining adequate including ∼10% who found it impossible procure what they needed. Currently, these samples are collected using combination four methods: (1) sampling from ground; (2) tree climbing; (3) constructing fixed infrastructure; (4) mobile aerial platforms, primarily rotorcraft drones. An distinction between instantaneous continuous was identified, allowing more targeted engineering development strategies. for provides possibilities opportunities, particularly context rapid robotics other advances. this study, we aim identify strategies that would provide benefits broad scientists, arborists, professional climbers facilitate basic discovery applied management. Priorities advancing efforts expand participation, both geographically professionally; define 2–3 common needs across community; form motivate focal teams biologists, professionals, engineers solutions needs; establish multidisciplinary communication platforms share information about innovations opportunities studying ecosystems.

Язык: Английский

---

Acoustic monitoring of anurans and birds in tropical biomes

Biotropica, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 56(3)

Опубликована: Апрель 5, 2024

Abstract Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) is increasingly popular in ecological research, but recording and analyzing large amounts of data still a critical bottleneck for the long‐term multiple species. We evaluated how temporal spatial sampling effort affects species diversity estimates using set 14,045 1‐min recordings from various neotropical birds anuran communities. Our goals were to evaluate (i) daily vocal activity cycle anurans, (ii) effect structure (e.g., number minutes listened each hour; continuous versus intermittent recordings) on determining composition, (iii) species–area relationship, recorders richness estimates. Based coverage completeness, we (iv) manual inspection schedules anurans across four biomes Brazil. found marked diel variation between taxonomic groups, indicating that are more efficiently detected during early periods day night, respectively. For proper estimates, with higher biodiversity required longer inspecting larger replicates, irrespective taxa. Although fewer per hour less informative than full‐hour sampling, better estimated when inspected interspersed over recorded shorter timespans. our findings, recommend PAM programs highly diverse ecosystems. Portuguese available online material.

Язык: Английский

---