Worldwide Soundscapes: A Synthesis of Passive Acoustic Monitoring Across Realms

ABSTRACT Aim The urgency for remote, reliable and scalable biodiversity monitoring amidst mounting human pressures on ecosystems has sparked worldwide interest in Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM), which can track life underwater and on land. However, we lack a unified methodology to report this sampling effort and a comprehensive overview of PAM coverage to gauge its potential as a global research and monitoring tool. To address this gap, we created the Worldwide Soundscapes project, a collaborative network and growing database comprising metadata from 416 datasets across all realms (terrestrial, marine, freshwater and subterranean). Location Worldwide, 12,343 sites, all ecosystem types. Time Period 1991 to present. Major Taxa Studied All soniferous taxa. Methods We synthesise sampling coverage across spatial, temporal and ecological scales using metadata describing sampling locations, deployment schedules, focal taxa and audio recording parameters. We explore global trends in biological, anthropogenic and geophysical sounds based on 168 selected recordings from 12 ecosystems across all realms. Results Terrestrial sampling is spatially denser (46 sites per million square kilometre—Mkm 2 ) than aquatic sampling (0.3 and 1.8 sites/Mkm 2 in oceans and fresh water) with only two subterranean datasets. Although diel and lunar cycles are well sampled across realms, only marine datasets (55%) comprehensively sample all seasons. Across the 12 ecosystems selected for exploring global acoustic trends, biological sounds showed contrasting diel patterns across ecosystems, declined with distance from the Equator, and were negatively correlated with anthropogenic sounds. Main Conclusions PAM can inform macroecological studies as well as global conservation and phenology syntheses, but representation can be improved by expanding terrestrial taxonomic scope, sampling coverage in the high seas and subterranean ecosystems, and spatio‐temporal replication in freshwater habitats. Overall, this worldwide PAM network holds promise to support cross‐realm biodiversity research and monitoring efforts.

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Journal
Global Ecology and Biogeography
Published
2025-05-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.70021
Citations
39
Primary Topic
Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
63.92

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article

Worldwide Soundscapes: A Synthesis of Passive Acoustic Monitoring Across Realms

Simon Thorn, Christos Astaras, Steffen Oppel, Youfang Chen et al.
39 citations
Global Ecology and Biogeography
Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
63.92
article

Worldwide Soundscapes: A Synthesis of Passive Acoustic Monitoring Across Realms

Simon Thorn, Christos Astaras, Steffen Oppel, Youfang Chen, Vijay Ramesh, Dave Morris, Renée P. Schoeman, Rodney A. Rountree, Kelsie A. Murchy, Marina H. L. Duarte, Ben J. Vernasco, Grzegorz Mikusiński, Jessica L. Deichmann, Laura K. Reynolds, Amandine Gasc, Laura Torrent, Adam Duarte, Michael D. Pashkevich, Luane S. Ferreira, Matthias Markolf, Nicholas R. Friedman, Dominic A. Martin, José R. León, Samara M. Haver, Tatiana Midori Maeda, Frederik Pitz, Jinshan Xu, Alice Calvente, Oded Berger‐Tal, Haruka S. Enari, Thomas Cherico Wanger, Kyle J. Lloyd, Jialin Lei, J. A. Hernandez-Blanco, John P. Ryan, Just T. Bayle‐Sempere, Sérgio Carvalho Moreira, Manuel Vieira, Fannie W. Shabangu, Cristian Pérez‐Granados, Gabriel Marcacci, Leandro Do Nascimento, Ricardo Rocha, Sylvie Rétaux, Matthew James Slater, Carolina Ocampo‐Ariza, Ana Rainho, Thiago Bicudo, Andrey Atemasov, Luc Barbaro, Julian D. Olden, Adrià López‐Baucells, Christopher W. Clark, Tara Hanf‐Dressler, José Santos, Jocelyn Grégoire, Simon Élise, М. Д. Чистополова, Joaquín del Río Fernández, Eben Goodale, Pınar Ertör‐Akyazi, Adams A. Chaskda, Jonas Hagge, Charles W. Martin, T. Aran Mooney, Christoph F. J. Meyer, Logan J. T. McLeod, Karl‐Ludwig Schuchmann, E. Durant McArthur, Audrey Looby, Kate Hutchinson, Christian Devenish, Kevin Darras, Marta Bolgan, Tom Bradfer‐Lawrence, Klaus Riede, Iniunam A. Iniunam, Kieran Cox, Júlio Baumgarten, Devin R. de Zwaan, Sarab S. Sethi, Elena Papale, Susannah J. Buchan, Orlando Acevedo‐Charry, Ingo Graß, Adriana Carolina Acero-Murcia, Saskia Dröge, Martín Boullhesen, Pedro Diniz, Sara Bombaci, Brian Miller, Louise Emmerson, Renata S. Sousa‐Lima, Giuseppa Buscaino, Laurence Helene De Clippele, Jack Greenhalgh, Carly Batist, Matyáš Adam, Ivan Nagelkerken, Samuel Haché, Juán Traba, Paula Trujillo Díaz, Liliana Piatti, Gérard Bota, Leonardo Carreira Trevelin, Tharaka Kusuminda, Jean‐Nicolas Pradervand, Sandra Müeller, D. Haye, Thiago Pinheiro, Tristan Louth‐Robins, Ricardo Díaz‐Delgado, Matthew McKown, Iqbal Singh Bhalla, Hiroto Enari, Yael Lehnardt, Filipa I. P. Samarra, Esther Sebastián‐González, Antonia Hammer, Thomas Hiller, Samuel R. P.‐J. Ross, Alain Jacot, M.R.J. Salton, Taylor Shaw, Mina Anders, Camille Desjonquères, Alexandre Antonelli, Jacob Willie, João Gama Monteiro, David López‐Bosch, Cicero Simão Lima‐Santos, Joël Attia, Jacopo Aguzzi, Fritjof Basan, Jonathan Jackson, Francis Juanes, Bernardo R. Quintella, John E. Quinn, Carole Hyacinthe, Mao‐Ning Tuanmu, Théophile Turco, Matthew K. Pine, Maryann S. Watson, Noelia Ríos, Maria Isabel Carvalho Gonçalves, Olaf Jahn, Shih‐Hung Wu, Florence Erbs, Julie Patris, A David, M. Clara P. Amorim, Steven L. Van Wilgenburg, Marisol Valverde, Christos Mammides, Gunnar Cerwén, Sebastián Muñoz-Duque, Philip Samartzis, Larissa Sayuri Moreira Sugai, Britas Klemens Eriksson, Wenyi Zhou, Vincent Médoc, Dennis M. Higgs, M. André, João Pedro Marques, Marinêz Isaac Marques, Jianfeng Tong, Kathy Martin, Thomas Sattler, María Ceraulo, Carolyn M. Rosten, Ellen Kenchington, Justin Kitzes, Sebastian Kepfer‐Rojas, Xavier Raick, Paula Leitman, Anna F. Cord, Benjamin L. Gottesman, Michał Budka, Frédéric Bertucci, Laura Schillé, Craig A. Radford, Sebastian Seibold, Agnès Rocquencourt, Junior A. Tremblay, Jasper Kanes, Heather Wood, Becky E. Heath, Stephanie K. Archer, Jérémy S. P. Froidevaux, Marconi Campos‐Cerqueira, Abram B. Fleishman, Jamieson Atkinson, Robert A. Briers, Wigna da Silva, Emiliano Esterci Ramalho, Valéria da Cunha Tavares, Jenni A. Stanley, Mauro Pichorim, Anna N. Osiecka, Sylvain Haupert, Kristen Bellisario, Kenneth W. Burchard, Benjamin Cretois, Matthew G. Betts, Emanuel Ştefan Baltag, Daniel Hending, Ana Silvia de Oliveira Tissiani, Svetlana S. Gogoleva, Giulliana Appel, Robert P. Dziak, Bárbara Freitas, Matthew J. Weldy, Paulo J. Fonseca, Christina Ieronymidou, Raiane Vital da Paz, Kevin Scharffenberg, Joe Chun‐Chia Huang, Paul J. Wensveen, William D. Halliday, Sarah A. Marley, Luís P. da Silva, Oliver C. Metcalf, Karolin Thomisch, José Miguel González Correa, Franck Malige, Brittnie Spriel, Carlos Salustio‐Gomes, Dorgival Diógenes Oliveira‐Júnior, Talen Rimmer, Maite Cerezo‐Araujo, Maria Mas, Tzu‐Hao Lin, Xiaoli Shen, Li Deng, Matthew O. Ward, Nina Ferrari, D. Singer, M. Eugenia Degano, Paul Roe, T. Dorigo, Miles Parsons, Lijun Dong, Yi-Chin Tseng, Carolina Gonzaga, Julia Wiel, Songhai Li, Jérôme Sueur, Ana Širović, Luciana Garcia Rocha, Rym Nouioua, Chapin Czarnecki, Kerry Dunleavy, Irmak Akoglu
article en
39 citations

Abstract

ABSTRACT Aim The urgency for remote, reliable and scalable biodiversity monitoring amidst mounting human pressures on ecosystems has sparked worldwide interest in Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM), which can track life underwater and on land. However, we lack a unified methodology to report this sampling effort and a comprehensive overview of PAM coverage to gauge its potential as a global research and monitoring tool. To address this gap, we created the Worldwide Soundscapes project, a collaborative network and growing database comprising metadata from 416 datasets across all realms (terrestrial, marine, freshwater and subterranean). Location Worldwide, 12,343 sites, all ecosystem types. Time Period 1991 to present. Major Taxa Studied All soniferous taxa. Methods We synthesise sampling coverage across spatial, temporal and ecological scales using metadata describing sampling locations, deployment schedules, focal taxa and audio recording parameters. We explore global trends in biological, anthropogenic and geophysical sounds based on 168 selected recordings from 12 ecosystems across all realms. Results Terrestrial sampling is spatially denser (46 sites per million square kilometre—Mkm 2 ) than aquatic sampling (0.3 and 1.8 sites/Mkm 2 in oceans and fresh water) with only two subterranean datasets. Although diel and lunar cycles are well sampled across realms, only marine datasets (55%) comprehensively sample all seasons. Across the 12 ecosystems selected for exploring global acoustic trends, biological sounds showed contrasting diel patterns across ecosystems, declined with distance from the Equator, and were negatively correlated with anthropogenic sounds. Main Conclusions PAM can inform macroecological studies as well as global conservation and phenology syntheses, but representation can be improved by expanding terrestrial taxonomic scope, sampling coverage in the high seas and subterranean ecosystems, and spatio‐temporal replication in freshwater habitats. Overall, this worldwide PAM network holds promise to support cross‐realm biodiversity research and monitoring efforts.

Global Ecology and BiogeographyVol. 34(5)
NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (US), University of Hohenheim (DE), Yamagata University (JP), Goethe University Frankfurt (DE), University of Stirling (GB), The Graduate Center, CUNY (US), Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul (BR), University of Copenhagen (DK), Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (IL), Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung (DE), University of Ruhuna (LK), CEA CESTA (FR), Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (AU), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR), University of Vienna (AT), University of Alicante (ES), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (US), Oregon State University (US), Florida Museum of Natural History (US), Museum für Naturkunde (DE), Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (US), Fisheries and Oceans Canada (CA), Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (CA), Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi (BR), Australian Antarctic Division (AU), National Taiwan Normal University (TW), Environment and Climate Change Canada (CA), Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (FR), Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (GB), University of Bonn (DE), University of Wisconsin–Madison (US), Harvard University (US), Alexandru Ioan Cuza University (RO), Whitman College (US), University of Lisbon (PT), University of British Columbia (CA), Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (JP), Université de Toulon (FR), Université de Bordeaux (FR), Universidade de Brasília (BR), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (AR), University of Northern British Columbia (CA), University of Auckland (NZ), Ifremer (FR), École Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Saint-Étienne (FR), Inserm (FR), University of Cape Town (ZA), University of Liège (BE), Sun Yat-sen University (CN), École Pratique des Hautes Études (FR), Queensland University of Technology (AU), University of Freiburg (DE), University of Jos (NG), Stockholm University (SE), Mount Allison University (CA), University of Iceland (IS), Tomas Bata University in Zlín (CZ), Universidade Federal da Paraíba (BR), University of Groningen (NL), University of Pittsburgh (US), Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais (BR), University of Concepción (CL), City University of New York (US), Simon Fraser University (CA), University of Cologne (DE), Universidade do Porto (PT), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN), Université de Montpellier (FR), University of Washington (US), Research Institute for Nature and Forest (BE), Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NO), Curtin University (AU), Cornell University (US), University of Victoria (CA), Aix-Marseille Université (FR), Purdue University West Lafayette (US), ConocoPhillips (United States) (US), University of Cambridge (GB), Edinburgh Napier University (GB), Scotland's Rural College (GB), University of the Free State (ZA), NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (US), Swiss Ornithological Institute (CH), Madeira Tecnopolo (PT), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (GB), Alexander von Humboldt Biological Resources Research Institute (CO), Wildlife Conservation Society Canada (CA), Bedford Institute of Oceanography (CA), Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (US), Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency of Germany (DE), Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (ZA), Beijing Botanical Garden (CN), BirdLife Cyprus (CY), Ocean Networks Canada Society (CA), Center for Environmental Health (US), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SE), Natural Resources Institute Finland (FI), Mines Saint-Étienne (FR), Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (BR), National University of Jujuy (AR), Westlake University (CN), Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (BR), University of Florida (US), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (BR), University of Bristol (GB), Universität Greifswald (DE), Frederick University (CY), Sorbonne Université (FR), University of Oxford (GB), University of Gdańsk (PL), Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay (FR), Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement (FR), Estación Biológica de Doñana (ES), Fugro (United Kingdom) (GB), Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon (FR), Centre d'Écologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (FR), Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp (BE), Zimmer Biomet (Germany) (DE), Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig (DE), ISPA - Instituto Universitário (PT), Institut de Systématique, Évolution, Biodiversité (FR), Hospital General de Granollers (ES), Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (DE), National Zoological Park (US), Laboratoire d’Informatique et Systèmes (FR), Forest Science and Technology Centre of Catalonia (ES), Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (ES), NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Northeast Fisheries Science Center (US), Pacific Northwest Research Station (US), Hessian Agency for Nature Conservation, Environment and Geology (DE), Protein Metrics (United States) (US), Cidete (Spain) (ES), Laboratoire d'Écologie Alpine (FR), Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica (TW), Agroscope (CH), UMR BIOdiversity, GEnes & Communities (FR), Nordwestdeutsche Forstliche Versuchsanstalt (DE), Raincoast Conservation Foundation (CA), Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá (BR), Marine Biodiversity Exploitation and Conservation (FR), Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution (RU), Institut de Ciències del Mar (ES), Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NO), Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (DE), Institute of Deep-Sea Science and Engineering (CN), National Research Council (IT), Écologie Marine Tropicale des Océans Pacifique et Indien (RE), Institute of Botany (CN), Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (US), Vale Technological Institute (BR), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (FR), Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (DE), Conservation Biology Institute, Dynamiques et écologie des paysages agriforestiers (FR), Centre de Recherche sur la Biodiversité et l'Environnement (FR), Boğaziçi University (TR), Shanghai Ocean University (CN), Imperial College London (GB), China Agricultural University (CN), University of Waikato (NZ), University of Salford (GB), Keele University (GB), The University of Adelaide (AU), Universidade da Madeira (PT), Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań (PL), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (ES), Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (US), Lancaster University (GB), Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (CN), University of Pretoria (ZA), Université Savoie Mont Blanc (FR), University of Windsor (CA), University of Göttingen (DE), Technische Universität Dresden (DE), University of Glasgow (GB), RMIT University (AU), Newcastle University (GB), Furman University (US), V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University (UA), University of Gothenburg (SE), Université Grenoble Alpes (FR), Wageningen University & Research (NL), Colorado State University (US), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (ES), KU Leuven (BE)
National Science Foundation, Bat Conservation International, Wildlife Conservation Society, Cetacean Society International, University of Northern British Columbia, Universität Hohenheim, University of Salford Manchester, University of Waikato, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais, Westlake University, Leverhulme Trust, European Commission, University of Bristol, Royal Society Te Apārangi, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Academia Sinica, Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, Technische Universität Dresden, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, KU Leuven, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Universidade de Lisboa, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Shanghai Ocean University, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Universität Greifswald, Sorbonne Université, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, Directorate for Biological Sciences, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Forest Service, HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme, Australian Research Council, Leibniz-Gemeinschaft, Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Russian Academy of Sciences, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, European Regional Development Fund, Pacific Northwest Research Station
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