Acoustic sensors enable efficient and non-invasive monitoring of a wide range of species, including many that are difficult to monitor in other ways. Although they were initially limited in application scope largely due to cost and hardware constraints, the development of low-cost, open-source models like the Audiomoth in recent years has increased access immensely and opened up new avenues of research. For example, some teams are using them to identify illicit human activities through the detection of associated sounds, like gunshots, vehicles, or chainsaws (e.g. OpenEars).
With this relatively novel dimension of wildlife monitoring rapidly advancing in both marine and terrestrial systems, it is crucial that we identify and share information about the utility and constraints of these sensors to inform efforts. A recent study identified advancements in hardware and machine learning applications, as well as early development of acoustic biodiversity indicators, as factors facilitating progress in the field. In terms of limitations, the authors highlight insufficient reference sound libraries, a lack of open-source audio processing tools, and a need for standardization of survey and analysis protocols. They also stress the importance of collaboration in moving forward, which is precisely what this group will aim to facilitate.
If you're new to acoustic monitoring and want to get up to speed on the basics, check out these beginner's resources and conversations from across the WILDLABS platform:
Three Resources for Beginners:
- Listening to Nature: The Emerging Field of Bioacoustics, Adam Welz
- Ecoacoustics and Biodiversity Monitoring, RSEC Journal
- Monitoring Ecosystems through Sound: The Present and Future of Passive Acoustics, Ella Browning and Rory Gibb
Three Forum Threads for Beginners:
- AudioMoth user guide | Tessa Rhinehart
- Audiomoth and Natterjack Monitoring (UK) | Stuart Newson
- Help with analysing bat recordings from Audiomoth | Carlos Abrahams
Three Tutorials for Beginners:
- "How do I perform automated recordings of bird assemblages?" | Carlos Abrahams, Tech Tutors
- "How do I scale up acoustic surveys with Audiomoths and automated processing?" | Tessa Rhinehart, Tech Tutors
- Acoustic Monitoring | David Watson, Ruby Lee, Andy Hill, and Dimitri Ponirakis, Virtual Meetups
Want to know more about acoustic monitoring and learn from experts in the WILDLABS community? Jump into the discussion in our Acoustic Monitoring group!
Header image: Carly Batist
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Hi, Cynthia Gichimu here. I'm a conservationist, and a champion for youths. I believe in environmental sustainability for posterity. I volunteer as a Project Officer with the Friends of Kinangop Plateau, a community-based local action group committed to biodiversity conservation.
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Recent grad with extensive experience in marine mammal AI and marine mammal bioacoustics!
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Link
User insights for a Shazam for frogs
Juliana Gómez Consuegra
I'm a MIDS graduate student at UC Berkeley working on a citizen science app for automated frog call identification. I'd like to know how users interact with such apps and their pain points. This 5-minute survey will...
27 September 2024
Article
🌍🎶 **Inspiring Moments at the African Bioacoustics Community Conference!** 🎶🌍
Consolata Gathoni Gitau
The African Bioacoustics Conference!
18 September 2024
Link
Calibration Talk at the 2017 ASA ACBA Symposium
Pete Marchetto
After all the discussion about calibration yesterday during the bioacoustics hardware call, I figured I should link to my talk on the subject from a few years ago.
6 September 2024
Funding
The Coral Research & Development Accelerator Platform opened it's Coral Accelerator Program 2024 for internationally collaborating teams to apply with innovative projects ranging from 'novel early-phase' to 'final...
26 August 2024
Link
Hydrophone user survey 2024
Lucille Chapuis
The IQOE Task Team on Low-Cost Hydrophones for Research, Education and Citizen Science would like to understand the needs of all hydrophone end-users. Please answer a few questions in this online survey! By...
26 August 2024
Article
Join us for Season Five of the WILDLABS Virtual Meetup Series, tuning in to the world of Bioacoustics! Laying the groundwork for our new horizon scan research, each event will convene cross-sector experts to explore a...
22 August 2024
Article
Join us in celebrating this year’s Judging Panele Award winners!
19 August 2024
Article
Join us in celebrating this year’s Community Choice Award winners!
15 August 2024
Article
Vote for your favorite submissions that best demonstrate conservation impact, novel innovation/discovery, and strong storytelling of the work and the sector.
12 August 2024
Article
On the final day of the #Tech4Wildlife Photo Challenge, we wrap up looking at past and current submissions that feature the fastest growing areas of conservation tech. Today’s topic: bioacoustics!
9 August 2024
Article
Listen to the Future: A Bioacoustics Horizon Scan
Vanesa Reyes
We are thrilled to introduce our new horizon scan, which will chart the future of bioacoustics. By collectively prioritizing emerging innovations that could transform the field, we aim to build consensus, facilitate...
5 August 2024
Funding
Wildlife Acoustics is proud to offer a grant program to support the advancement of wildlife research, habitat monitoring, and environmental conservation
4 August 2024
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| Description | Activity | Replies | Groups | Updated |
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| Thank you for your reply, ChadI meant 10 as a whole, indeed. Perhaps you see your post in one group, but since it is tagged for all groups, I assumed you meant 10 in total.In your... |
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Acoustics, AI for Conservation, Animal Movement, Camera Traps, Citizen Science, Climate Change, Community Base, Connectivity, Drones, eDNA & Genomics, Emerging Tech, Funding and Finance, Geospatial, Human-Wildlife Coexistence, Software Development, Wildlife Crime | 2 months 1 week ago | |
| Hello WILDLABS!We are very excited and grateful to be recipients of one of the WILDLABS 2025.I (Tom Knowles, @TomKnowles) am currently a... |
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Acoustics, Marine Conservation | 2 months 1 week ago | |
| Gina- Sounds like an interesting thesis topic! I work with bioacoustics in offshore waters and I'd be happy to have a chat and provide feedback-- feel free to message me via... |
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Emerging Tech, Acoustics, Connectivity, Marine Conservation, Sensors | 2 months 2 weeks ago | |
| As recipients of the WILDLABS AWARDS, our team is proud to lead the Locally-led East Asian Flyway Acoustics (LEAFA)... |
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Acoustics | 2 months 2 weeks ago | |
| @PhilAtkin Really excited to PippyG available for public. Can't wait to get my hands on these little babies soon. |
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Acoustics | 2 months 2 weeks ago | |
| Hi, My name is Gina. I'm currently working on my Bachelor's Thesis and would like some feedback on my final concept. It is a ... |
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Acoustics, Emerging Tech, Marine Conservation, Sensors, Women in Conservation Tech Programme (WiCT) | 2 months 2 weeks ago | |
| Hi everyone! I am hoping to gather a little advice from this amazing community. I am a graduate student at Rutgers University and will be... |
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Camera Traps, Acoustics | 2 months 3 weeks ago | |
| Nev - hi, I'm UK based too and happy to set up a call if I can help? All the best, Carlos |
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Acoustics | 2 months 3 weeks ago | |
| Thank you for the response, I'll look into it. |
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Acoustics | 2 months 3 weeks ago | |
| We’re excited to announce that Deep Voice has received a 2025 Wildlabs Award to develop a public, web-based platform for marine mammal... |
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Acoustics, AI for Conservation, Marine Conservation | 2 months 4 weeks ago | |
| Hi Ryan, hmm, I had no idea there was a microphone named that. I thought about how it’s used to lure birds for netting, and I like Greek Mythology. I thought it was a perfect fit... |
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Acoustics, Emerging Tech, Funding and Finance, Protected Area Management Tools, Software Development | 4 months 3 weeks ago | |
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Acoustics, AI for Conservation, Marine Conservation | 3 years 2 months ago |
