Ecoacoustics

The sounds produced by geophonic, biophonic and technophonic sources are relevant to the function of natural and human modified ecosystems. Passive recording is one of the most non-invasive technologies as its use avoids human intrusion during acoustic surveys and facilitates the accumulation of huge amounts of acoustical data.

For the first time, this book collates and reviews the science behind ecoaucostics; illustrating the principles, methods and applications of this exciting new field. Topics covered in this comprehensive volume include;
- the assessment of biodiversity based on sounds emanating from a variety of environments
- the best technologies and methods necessary to investigate environmental sounds
- implications for climate change and urban systems
- the relationship between landscape ecology and ecoacoustics
- the conservation of soundscapes and the social value of ecoacoustics
- areas of potential future research

An invaluable resource for scholars, researchers and students, Ecoacoustics: The Ecological Role of Sounds provides an unrivalled set of ideas, tools and references based on the current state of the field.

List of Contributors xiii
Preface xv

1 Ecoacoustics: A New Science 1
2 The Duality of Sounds: Ambient and Communication 13
3 The Role of Sound in Terrestrial Ecosystems: Three Case Examples from Michigan, USA 31
4 The Role of Sound in the Aquatic Environment 61
5 The Acoustic Chorus and its Ecological Significance 81
6 The Ecological Effects of Noise on Species and Communities 95
7 Biodiversity Assessment in Temperate Biomes using Ecoacoustics 109
8 Biodiversity Assessment in Tropical Biomes using Ecoacoustics: Linking Soundscape to Forest Structure in a Human-dominated Tropical Dry Forest in Southern Madagascar 129
9 Biodiversity Assessment and Environmental Monitoring in Freshwater and Marine Biomes using Ecoacoustics 145
10 Integrating Biophony into Biodiversity Measurement and Assessment 169
11 Landscape Patterns and Soundscape Processes 193
12 Connecting Soundscapes to Landscapes: Modeling the Spatial Distribution of Sound 211
13 Soil Acoustics 225
14 Fundamentals of Soundscape Conservation 235
15 Urban Acoustics: Heartbeat of Lansing, Michigan, USA 259
16 Analytical Methods in Ecoacoustics 273
17 Soundscape Ecology and its Expression through the Voice of the Arts: An Essay 297
18 Ecoacoustics Challenges 313

References 317