Acoustic Ecology - Assessing stocks

Developing tools to measure, monitor and predict temporal and spatial changes in soundscape complexity, and the mental health and well-being benefits conferred, at multiple spatial scales.

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In this project theme, we will combine the BTO’s Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) and Atlas data with sound files from Xeno-Canto to reconstruct and to map habitat-specific natural soundscapes across the UK.

We will relate the acoustic properties of these soundscapes to local habitat and landscape characteristics to determine key drivers of spatial and temporal dynamics in soundscape complexity.

Working with the outputs from the Psychology and Economics project themes, we will develop tools for measuring, monitoring and predicting mental health and well-being value based on natural soundscape characteristics.

We will also up-scale measures of local soundscape complexity to build a national indicator of natural soundscape stocks.

Use the player below to hear an example reconstructed soundscape, in this case representing an area of arable farmland in Gloucestershire:

The ecology project theme is based at the University of East Anglia, led by Dr Simon Butler and investigated by Dr Claire Buchan.