Seminar title: Bugs in the system | Obtaining information about natural environments can be expensive, time consuming, and limited by access to taxonomic experts. Passive acoustic monitoring provides detailed information on the spatial and temporal distribution of animals, enabling both basic and applied research at broad spatial and temporal scales. While acoustic monitoring provides new ways of addressing classic ecological questions, the hardware tools and analytical approaches are evolving rapidly, requiring thoughtful development of methods in parallel with ecological hypothesis testing.
In this research seminar, I will illustrate the process of developing and implementing passive acoustic monitoring, with a particular focus on Neotropical forest katydids. I will use acoustic monitoring data to evaluate when and where different katydid species are active, and to test for associations between insect and bird species richness and acoustic detection rates. Finally, I will discuss the suitability of passive acoustic insect monitoring as an approach for supporting and evaluating restoration and habitat conservation.
Together, these findings illustrate the advantages and limitations of acoustic monitoring, highlight some of the pending methodological advances, and indicate where progress will be urgently needed in the coming years.Abstract: