Worldwide Soundscapes: A Synthesis of Passive Acoustic Monitoring Across Realms

AimThe 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). LocationWorldwide, 12,343 sites, all ecosystem types. Time Period1991 to present. Major Taxa StudiedAll soniferous taxa. MethodsWe 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. ResultsTerrestrial sampling is spatially denser (46 sites per million square kilometre—Mkm2) than aquatic sampling (0.3 and 1.8 sites/Mkm2 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 ConclusionsPAM 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.

Keyword(s)

ARU automated sound recorder biodiversity conservation biology, ecoacoustics, IUCN GET realm, Passive Acoustic Monitoring, phenology, soundscape ecology

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Darras Kevin F. A., Rountree Rodney A., Van Wilgenburg Steven L., Cord Anna F., Pitz Frederik, Chen Youfang, Dong Lijun, Rocquencourt Agnès, Desjonquères Camille, Diaz Patrick Mauritz, Lin Tzu‐Hao, Turco Théophile, Emmerson Louise, Bradfer‐lawrence Tom, Gasc Amandine, Marley Sarah, Salton Marcus, Schillé Laura, Wensveen Paul J., Wu Shih‐Hung, Acero‐murcia Adriana C., Acevedo‐charry Orlando, Adam Matyáš, Aguzzi Jacopo, Akoglu Irmak, Amorim M. Clara P., Anders Mina, André Michel, Antonelli Alexandre, Do Nascimento Leandro Aparecido, Appel Giulliana, Archer Stephanie, Astaras Christos, Atemasov Andrey, Atkinson Jamieson, Attia Joël, Baltag Emanuel, Barbaro Luc, Basan Fritjof, Batist Carly, Baumgarten Julio Ernesto, Bayle Sempere Just T., Bellisario Kristen, David Asaf Ben, Berger‐tal Oded, Bertucci Frederic, Betts Matthew G., Bhalla Iqbal S., Bicudo Thiago, Bolgan Marta, Bombaci Sara, Bota Gerard, Boullhesen Martin, Briers Robert A., Buchan Susannah, Budka Michal, Burchard Katie, Buscaino Giuseppa, Calvente Alice, Campos‐cerqueira Marconi, Gonçalves Maria Isabel Carvalho, Ceraulo Maria, Cerezo‐araujo Maite, Cerwén Gunnar, Chaskda Adams A., Chistopolova Maria, Clark Christopher W., Cox Kieran D., Cretois Benjamin, Czarnecki Chapin, Da Silva Luis P., Da Silva Wigna, de Clippele Laurence H., de La haye David, de Oliveira tissiani Ana Silvia, de Zwaan Devin, Degano M. Eugenia, Deichmann Jessica, Del rio Joaquin, Devenish Christian, Díaz‐delgado Ricardo, Diniz Pedro, Oliveira‐júnior Dorgival Diógenes, Dorigo Thiago, Dröge Saskia, Duarte Marina, Duarte Adam, Dunleavy Kerry, Dziak Robert, Elise Simon, Enari Hiroto, Enari Haruka S., Erbs Florence, Eriksson Britas Klemens, Ertör‐akyazi Pınar, Ferrari Nina C., Ferreira Luane, Fleishman Abram B., Fonseca Paulo J., Freitas Bárbara, Friedman Nicholas R., Froidevaux Jérémy S. P., Gogoleva Svetlana, Gonzaga Carolina, Correa José Miguel González, Goodale Eben, Gottesman Benjamin, Grass Ingo, Greenhalgh Jack, Gregoire Jocelyn, Haché Samuel, Hagge Jonas, Halliday William, Hammer Antonia, Hanf‐dressler Tara, Haupert Sylvain, Haver Samara, Heath Becky, Hending Daniel, Hernandez‐blanco Jose, Higgs Dennis, Hiller Thomas, Huang Joe Chun‐Chia, Hutchinson Katie Lois, Hyacinthe Carole, Ieronymidou Christina, Iniunam Iniunam A., Jackson Janet, Jacot Alain, Jahn Olaf, Juanes Francis, Kanes K. S. Jasper, Kenchington Ellen, Kepfer‐rojas Sebastian, Kitzes Justin, Kusuminda Tharaka, Lehnardt Yael, Lei Jialin, Leitman Paula, León José, Li Deng, Lima‐santos Cicero Simão, Lloyd Kyle John, Looby Audrey, López‐baucells Adrià, López‐bosch David, Louth‐robins Tristan, Maeda Tatiana, Malige Franck, Mammides Christos, Marcacci Gabriel, Markolf Matthias, Marques Marinez Isaac, Martin Charles W., Martin Dominic A., Martin Kathy, McArthur Ellen, McKown Matthew, McLeod Logan J. T., Médoc Vincent, Metcalf Oliver, Meyer Christoph F. J., Mikusinski Grzegorz, Miller Brian, Monteiro João, Mooney T. Aran, Moreira Sérgio, Sugai Larissa Sayuri Moreira, Morris Dave, Müller Sandra, Muñoz‐duque Sebastian, Murchy Kelsie A., Nagelkerken Ivan, Mas Maria, Nouioua Rym, Ocampo‐ariza Carolina, Olden Julian D., Oppel Steffen, Osiecka Anna N., Papale Elena, Parsons Miles, Pashkevich Michael, Patris Julie, Marques João Pedro, Pérez‐granados Cristian, Piatti Liliana, Pichorim Mauro, Pine Matthew K., Pinheiro Thiago, Pradervand Jean‐Nicolas, Quinn John, Quintella Bernardo, Radford Craig, Raick Xavier, Rainho Ana, Ramalho Emiliano, Ramesh Vijay, Rétaux Sylvie, Reynolds Laura K., Riede Klaus, Rimmer Talen, Ríos Noelia, Rocha Ricardo, Rocha Luciana, Roe Paul, Ross Samuel R. P.‐J., Rosten Carolyn M., Ryan John, Salustio‐gomes Carlos, Samarra Filipa I. P., Samartzis Philip, Santos José, Sattler Thomas, Scharffenberg Kevin, Schoeman Renée P., Schuchmann Karl‐Ludwig, Sebastián‐gonzález Esther, Seibold Sebastian, Sethi Sarab, Shabangu Fannie W., Shaw Taylor, Shen Xiaoli, Singer David, Širović Ana, Slater Matthew, Spriel Brittnie, Stanley Jenni, Sueur Jérôme, Da Cunha Tavares Valeria, Thomisch Karolin, Thorn Simon, Tong Jianfeng, Torrent Laura, Traba Juan, Tremblay Junior A., Trevelin Leonardo, Tseng Sunny, Tuanmu Mao‐Ning, Valverde Marisol, Vernasco Ben, Vieira Manuel, Da paz Raiane Vital, Ward Matthew, Watson Maryann, Weldy Matthew J., Wiel Julia, Willie Jacob, Wood Heather, Xu Jinshan, Zhou Wenyi, Li Songhai, Sousa‐lima Renata, Wanger Thomas Cherico (2025). Worldwide Soundscapes: A Synthesis of Passive Acoustic Monitoring Across Realms. Global Ecology and Biogeography. 34 (5). e70021 (20p.). https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.70021, https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00953/106476/

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