BioSound

The BioSound working group brings together scientists and stakeholders to produce acoustic-based data products that support marine biodiversity monitoring and conservation. BioSound is particularly interested in understanding the value of underwater soundscape metrics as indicators of biological and anthropogenic change.

Resources for passive acoustic monitoring (PAM)

• Curated list of PAM resources and tools
• Annotated reference list of topical areas

Goals and objectives

• Establish common practices, analytical recommendations, and data standards for underwater soundscapes as applied to biodiversity monitoring and conservation.
• Provide a collaborative space for individuals and organizations working with bioacoustic soundscape data to share methods and participate in coordinated research.
• Produce comparable acoustic data products from NOAA IOOS regional networks (e.g. SECOORA), MBON, and MBON-related regions.
• Advance the language and applications of Essential Ocean Variables, including the Ocean Sound EOV.
• Assess multiple datasets across variable ocean and coastal environments to identify soundscape metric standards.
• Obtain consensus on data storage and metadata practices and share this approach with the broader acoustic community.
• Determine capabilities and limitations of soundscape variables in biodiversity and ecosystem monitoring.
• Collaboratively participate in grant opportunities and publications.

Figure 1. Temporal trends in received low frequency (50–1200 Hz) rms sound pressure levels (SPL) measured hourly in A) Chechessee Creek and B) Colleton River, South Carolina, USA, November 2019–July 2022. (E. Montie, unpublished data)

BioSound products

Data Explorer of Acoustic-Based Marine Biodiversity Indices — an exploratory analysis evaluating trends in soundscape biodiversity metrics across different ocean environments, presented as interactive figures.

Frequently asked questions

Who is leading this project?

This is a collaborative initiative under MBON/IOOS. Project leads are Liz Ferguson (Ocean Science Analytics) and Dr. Neil Hammerschlag (Shark Research Foundation Inc.). Core participants include Eric Montie (University of South Carolina Beaufort), Kate Stafford (Oregon State University), and Jennifer Dorton (SECOORA).

What is required for participation?

Those with passive acoustic data are asked to contribute to analysis efforts. Participants without data should have a background in bioacoustics or marine biodiversity as it relates to sound.

How do I become a collaborator?

Contact working group co-lead Dr. Neil Hammerschlag (neilhammerschlag@gmail.com ) or Liz Ferguson (eferguson@oceanscienceanalytics.com ).