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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- @AliceMuller
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I am an environmental scientist working in international community development and community led ecosystem restoration
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Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
I am a biologist with a broad interest in how the environment affects the behaviour and ecology of wildlife. I also like seeking creative and practical solutions to reduce our impact on the environment.
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- @fmnrandrew
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I hold a PhD in terrestrial ecology (2010) and am an Adjunct Research Fellow at Charles Sturt University. I also work with World Vision Australia as Monitoring Coordinator for a project called "Scale Up FMNR" which is short for "Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration"
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- @Iniunam
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Conservation Biologist, Data Analyst and Bioacoustics enthusiast
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- @sbombaci
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I study acoustic ecology, community ecology, and social justice in conservation
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- @garthpaine
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Arizona State University
Garth Paine (https://www.activatedspace.com/ ) is acoustic ecologist, composer, sound artist, and academic (ASU) based in USA/Australia. He is known for his pioneering work on species density metrics from ambient recordings and his anti-poaching efforts
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- @Xavier_Mouy
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I build software and hardware tools to help the analysis or the collection of passive acoustic data.
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Researcher interested in the conservation of endemic anurans from arid High Andes. Focused on behavior, ecology, physiology, and reproduction studies. Education for conservation.
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- @CarlosAbrahams
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Baker Consultants
Director of Bioacoustics and Senior Lecturer
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- @SarikaRFCx
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Rainforest Connection
Conservation scientist (tigers, tech, forests, and communities) and Head of Partnerships at Rainforest Connection/Arbimon
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Article
Catch up on the conservation tech discussions and events that happened during World Wildlife Day 2024!
7 March 2024
Careers
A PHD POSITION AT NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNIVERSITY
Consolata Gathoni Gitau
Do you know anyone interested in this position? Let them know by sharing widely.
27 February 2024
Careers
The Ecological Acoustics and Behavior Lab at the University of New Hampshire seeks a PhD student to join our lab to investigate how forest habitat affects moose occupancy and soundscape in northern New Hampshire
13 February 2024
Careers
The primary focus of the research is to explore how red deer movements, space use, habitat selection and foraging behaviour change during the wolf recolonization process.
10 February 2024
Link
These researchers are introduce the ISPA (Inter-Species Phonetic Alphabet) as a new way to precisely interpret and transcribe animal sounds. By using text to represent sounds, existing human language machine learning...
8 February 2024
Careers
PhD Opportunity - Exploring plants’ sensing capability with vibroacoustics
University of Southampton
Applications open for a PhD position in plant vibroacoustics at the University of Southampton
8 February 2024
Article
We demonstrate the power of using passive acoustic monitoring & machine learning to survey species, using ruffed lemurs in southeastern Madagascar as an example.
23 January 2024
Link
Questionnaire for Pain Points and Needs in Bioacoustics
Olivier Staehli
Hi! We're engineers eager to understand how technology can simplify acoustic work. If you use recorders, your input would be invaluable. Please consider taking our 5min survey. As a thank you, participants will be...
23 January 2024
Careers
Program Officer - Bioacoustics, WILDLABS
Henry Rees
Come join our team! We're looking for a Program Officer to join the WILDLABS Community, hosted by WCS in Argentina. This role will support our research program, with the chosen candidate leading our horizon scanning...
22 January 2024
Careers
Hiring bioacoutics analysts
Joshua Taylor
We're hiring ecologists for immediate start / remote working / short contract
19 January 2024
Careers
Two year postdoc - Machine Learning & Bioacoustics
Emmanuel Dufourq
Two years in Cape Town, South Africa. Yearly visits to Rwanda. If you love to code, and all things Python/deep learning/tech stuff/ then you'll have an awesome time!
16 January 2024
Article
This article discussed early work on modeling how acoustic properties of the environment will change with variations in weather.
9 January 2024
August 2025
event
Louisa Richmond-Coggan
September 2025
October 2025
event
Vanesa Reyes
November 2025
December 2020
June 2020
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| Description | Activity | Replies | Groups | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thank you so much! This is super helpful and I really appreciate the feedback! |
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Acoustics, Data management and processing tools | 5 months ago | |
| That's amazing thanks so much! |
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Acoustics, AI for Conservation, Data management and processing tools, Early Career | 5 months 1 week ago | |
| I have now built my fox and cat trap.I want to triger it by face reconition so not to get possums or goanners.Can you help ?Doug Hemingway.0418 390 701 |
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Acoustics, Build Your Own Data Logger Community | 5 months 1 week ago | |
| I just started using this software a few days ago and so far it has captured and kept my attention more than other programs such as Raven or Kaleidoscope. I have only been using... |
+1
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Acoustics | 5 months 2 weeks ago | |
| As someone who is looking for a relatively simple solution for multiple collaborators (all with very little expertise in bats or acoustics) in a large consortium, I am curious as... |
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Acoustics | 5 months 2 weeks ago | |
| Highly recommend the Saffron Aid modified Song Meter Mini for a professional deployment. If you want to go down the audiomoth route it makes sense to look at options for the... |
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Acoustics | 5 months 3 weeks ago | |
| I think its possible. I spoke to Stuart at the BTO a while ago about this. It's just not available as an off the shelf solution yet. If you can get real time outputs on the pi (or... |
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Acoustics | 5 months 3 weeks ago | |
| Hi everyone, can you recommend reliable bat detectors for fieldwork? I'm focusing on bat (Chiroptera) research and need a detector... |
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Acoustics | 5 months 3 weeks ago | |
| You can hack a 6-inch underwater speaker onto a recording unit, and swap it from being speaker to a microphone. They are, on paper, the same thing. That frequency... |
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Acoustics | 6 months ago | |
| Hey Catherine! This post originally linked to an old version of the database - the new version does include WildTrax. I'm a big fan of it :) |
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Acoustics | 6 months ago | |
| Thanks for reaching out.Please send us an email: smithy@kznwildlife.com and david.ehlers.smith@birdlife.org.za and we can have chat. Review and meta-analysis welcome as well as... |
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Acoustics | 6 months ago | |
| Hi Lucille,Thank you for your reply! We’d be really interested in learning more about your developments. We’ll contact you soon to arrange a discussion.Thank you.Best regards,... |
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Acoustics, AI for Conservation, Sensors | 6 months 1 week ago |
