The soundscape of the olive grove: a systematic review within the mediterranean context

Abstract Context Intensive agriculture and climate change degrade Mediterranean ecosystems such as olive groves, the paradigm of the region. Soundscape ecology emerges as an innovative tool to monitor these habitats and support sustainable management practices. Objectives (1) To ascertain the state of the art in studies on the acoustic environment of Mediterranean olive groves, (2) to examine the methodological approaches employed, and (3) to analyse the interaction between the soundscape and the biotic, abiotic and anthropic factors of this crop in the Mediterranean, in order to identify knowledge gaps and guide future research. Methodology Following the guidelines established by the PRISMA Statement (2020), research on the soundscape of the Mediterranean olive grove published between 2014 and 2024 were identified in the Scopus, Web of Science, and CAB Abstracts databases. Results Twenty interdisciplinary publications (ecoacoustics and soundscape ecology) were identified, mainly from Italy, which analyse the impact of different farming systems on the biological communities of the Mediterranean olive grove. Manual methods, call recognisers and acoustic indices were used. The richness and complexity of the sounds recorded were proportional to the environmental quality of these agrosystems, with agricultural intensification and mechanisation constituting a serious threat to their biodiversity. Conclusions The study of the soundscape is a key element in assessing the health of the olive grove. We stress the need for an integrated approach in future research to enrich the overall understanding of the identity, cultural and heritage value of the olive tree.