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
- @cathjprice123
- | she/her
I am a conservation behaviour researcher interested in acoustic and olfactory cues, and how they influence foraging responses.
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- @BrunaTeixeira
- | She
Master and PhD student in the Postgraduate Program in Animal Biology. She works mainly in Landscape Ecology with an emphasis on bioacoustics and interactions between primates.
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- 2 Groups
- @hannahrisser
- | She/her
CEH
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Wildlife Drones
Wildlife Drones has developed the world’s most innovative radio animal-tracking system using drones so you can track your radio-tagged animals like never before.
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International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Key Biodiversity Areas Programme Officer, IUCN
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- @chenxing3
- | he/him
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- @affiliatepurna
- | general email id
Purna Man Shrestha is a program coordinator of mountain spirit, Nepal. He has 6 years of working experience in human wildlife interaction focusing on wildcats, and conflicts. He has a good knowledge on wildlife survey techniques, field survey, stakeholder engagement
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- 11 Groups
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Assiniboine Park Conservancy
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- 1 Groups
Interested in automated insect monitoring.
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- 15 Discussions
- 3 Groups
Careers
Are you excited by the potential for new technologies to help monitor the natural world? Do you enjoy communicating your passion for technology and nature with diverse audiences? We are seeking an enthusiastic...
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Apply Now: AI for Conservation Office Hours
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Are you stuck on an AI or ML challenge in your conservation work? Apply now for the chance to receive tailored expert advice from data scientists! Applications due 27th January 2023
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Link
This study uses passive acoustic monitoring to record the patterns of illegal cattle occurrence within protected areas in the Brazilian Pantanal.
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WILDLABS and Fauna & Flora International are seeking an early career Vietnamese conservationist for 12-month paid internship position to grow and support the Southeast Asia regional community in our global...
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To assist with creative research project in the DC/VA/MD region
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We are looking for someone who enjoys the craft of making to come and help run our London based lab.
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PhD - Sensory ecology of vespine wasps
Duncan Wilson
a technology-led solution to understanding the honeybees of the wasp world
8 December 2022
Link
Acoustic survey data is used to estimate the diversity of critically endangered amphibians in the fragmented forests of Madagascar.
28 November 2022
Link
WILDLABS Digest: 4 November 2022
Stephanie O'Donnell
A new issue of our community digest just went out! Check it out to discover a big platform update, and a summary of all the latest content from across WILDLABS in one easy to scan place!
4 November 2022
Article
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Carly Batist
Five articles that include conservation tech published at Mongabay
20 October 2022
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Conservation Technology Intern (Vietnam)
Stephanie O'Donnell and 1 more
*New closing date!* WILDLABS and Fauna & Flora International are seeking an early career conservationist for 12-month paid internship position to grow and support the Southeast Asia regional community in our global...
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61 Products
| Description | Activity | Replies | Groups | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Please find attached, a short note wherein we propose 03 postulates of soundscape ecology. The focus here is in soundscapes than sound of... |
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Acoustics | 6 years 3 months ago | |
| Dear colleagues, we are designing a study to document presence or absence of spider monkeys in forest fragments in western Ecuador. We... |
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Acoustics | 6 years 3 months ago | |
| Thanks! We also just posted info on the AVISONA 2019 event to the resources page for anyone who missed it and wants to learn more. |
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Acoustics | 6 years 3 months ago | |
| Forgot to say - if you are having trouble reformatting SDcards on Windows- the project suggests this programme http://www.ridgecrop.demon.co.uk/index.htm?guiformat.htm. |
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Acoustics | 6 years 4 months ago | |
| Over the past year I have been involved in a project trying to detect illegal fish bomb blasts in Tanzania using acoustics. We have 4 long... |
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Acoustics | 6 years 5 months ago | |
| Hi, I've made an initial attemp to design a 3D printed case for an audiomoth (with 3 x AAA battery pack) and have made it available... |
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Acoustics | 6 years 5 months ago | |
| Hi All, These are well-produced online introductory videos for the use of the Raven software for acoustic analyses. Really... |
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Acoustics | 6 years 5 months ago | |
| Hi all, We wanted to let you know that the AudioMoth is now available on LabMaker. LabMaker are a platform that sell open-source... |
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Acoustics | 6 years 8 months ago | |
| I love seeing how much this little device has taken off! |
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Acoustics | 6 years 9 months ago | |
| Hi Stephanie, thanks for the update above. We will be doing two things this week to support the community. To meet the demand from Round 3 we require an essential component (... |
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Acoustics | 7 years ago | |
| Hi all - WWF's upcoming Fuller Seminar will focus on biodiversity monitoring using acoustics. Instructions for remote participation are... |
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Acoustics | 7 years 1 month ago | |
| Hi everyone, we have received an update from GroupGets on the shipping of the second group purchase. 'Quick update everyone. The boards are scheduled to ship to us... |
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Acoustics | 7 years 3 months ago |
