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
- 0 Resources
- 15 Discussions
- 4 Groups
Feral/wild horse remote darting
- 0 Resources
- 12 Discussions
- 5 Groups
- 0 Resources
- 3 Discussions
- 2 Groups
University of Oxford
- 0 Resources
- 11 Discussions
- 7 Groups
Simul Systems Ltd
- 0 Resources
- 14 Discussions
- 4 Groups
Manchester Metropolitan University
MSc Student 2018/2019. PhD Student 2020+
- 0 Resources
- 7 Discussions
- 1 Groups
Newcomer to conservation with a mechatronics/engineering background
- 0 Resources
- 22 Discussions
- 7 Groups
- 0 Resources
- 1 Discussions
- 1 Groups
- 0 Resources
- 14 Discussions
- 21 Groups
World Wide Fund for Nature/ World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
- 0 Resources
- 4 Discussions
- 4 Groups
World Wide Fund for Nature/ World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
- 0 Resources
- 107 Discussions
- 16 Groups
- 0 Resources
- 43 Discussions
- 14 Groups
Article
Read in detail about how to use The Inventory, our new living directory of conservation technology tools, organisations, and R&D projects.
1 May 2024
Article
The Inventory is your one-stop shop for conservation technology tools, organisations, and R&D projects. Start contributing to it now!
1 May 2024
Technology to End the Sixth Mass Extinction. Salary: $132 - $160k; Location: Seattle WA; 7+ years of experience in hardware product development and manufacturing; View post for full job description
1 May 2024
TBC is looking for an applicant to lead on the design, analysis and reporting of data from a wide range of innovative bat population monitoring surveys with a particular focus on passive acoustic monitoring, undertake...
24 April 2024
Full-time 3 year postdoctoral fellowship in Escondido, CA
22 April 2024
In a recent publication we tested Underwater Passive Acoustic Monitoring (UPAM) as a feasible non-invasive technique to study the calling behavior of therathened aquatic Andean frogs under natural conditions in the...
6 April 2024
What can soundscapes tell us about ecosystem functioning and health? We are looking to hire a postdoctoral researcher in ecoacoustics for Nature Recovery at Oxford
2 April 2024
Hussey Labs seeks a senior post-doctoral researcher/senior research associate for movement ecology of Greenland halibut in the context of fisheries management across Baffin Bay-Davis Strait, Eastern Canadian Arctic.
13 March 2024
Catch up on the conservation tech discussions and events that happened during World Wildlife Day 2024!
7 March 2024
Do you know anyone interested in this position? Let them know by sharing widely.
27 February 2024
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
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
June 2024
July 2024
event
September 2024
event
42 Products
Recently updated products
Description | Activity | Replies | Groups | Updated |
---|---|---|---|---|
Oh wow, thank you so much!!!I will keep that four advices in mind! |
|
Acoustics | 2 minutes 13 seconds ago | |
Very interesting project! I had a few questions or things to consider. Funny enough, I work next to the Elephant Listening Project (ELP) in Central Africa. They've tried a few... |
|
Acoustics | 1 hour 7 minutes ago | |
You won't get any audio if you don't allow enough time for the hydromoth/audiomoth to write. So when you do a continuous recording you need to experiment a little. I'm sure there... |
+3
|
Acoustics | 1 day ago | |
Same issues here. A MEMS is a great idea to pot, but you really need a piezoelectric element for this to work and not a MEMS based on capacitance (btw they're all capacitance,... |
|
Acoustics, Biologging | 1 day 1 hour ago | |
Congratulations! My first hydromoth was just arrived yesterday and so excited! Looking forward for the update from your project!!! |
|
Acoustics, Biologging, Climate Change, Conservation Tech Training and Education, Data management and processing tools, Emerging Tech, Open Source Solutions, Protected Area Management Tools, Sensors, Software and Mobile Apps | 1 day 3 hours ago | |
Also some other bat experts I'd recommend reaching out to, if you haven't already (for this and any bat acoustic questions) - Adrià López-Baucells, Nils Bouillard, Kate Jones,... |
|
Acoustics | 1 day 12 hours ago | |
If you have the resources, I would suggest testing the sensitivity and directionality of the system at relevant frequencies both with and without an external mic, and let the... |
|
Acoustics | 1 day 23 hours ago | |
Thank you Robyn. Sure I will send more information to your email |
|
Citizen Science, Acoustics, Conservation Tech Training and Education, Human-Wildlife Conflict | 1 week 1 day ago | |
Hey Sol, No problem at all. Depending on your configuration, the Audiomoth software would have to work on a PCB with an ESP32 chip which is the unit on the audiomoth/... |
|
Acoustics, AI for Conservation, Data management and processing tools, Emerging Tech, Sustainable Fishing Challenges | 1 week 3 days ago | |
Totally agree.Inititally sceptical until I saw Helena and Graeme were involved.MJ |
|
Acoustics, Citizen Science, Community Base, Human-Wildlife Conflict | 1 week 5 days ago | |
Thanks Carly! I will keep anyone interested in this project posted on this platform. Cheers |
|
Acoustics, AI for Conservation | 2 weeks 1 day ago | |
'Most importantly, we have to make it play a MIDI version of the DoctorWho theme song when you arm the device. That has to be the #1 feature if you ask me!' Seconded! |
+9
|
Acoustics, Biologging, Emerging Tech, Open Source Solutions, Sensors | 2 weeks 2 days ago |