Paul Roe

Mini‐acoustic sensors reveal occupancy and threats to koalas Phascolarctos cinereus in private native forests

Publisher: Wiley

Date: 23-12-2021

DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14099

Abstract: Forests on private land have a wide range of uses that span activities such as recreation, primary production and nature conservation. Traditionally, it has been difficult for researchers to access private land to undertake systematic surveys. We used mini‐acoustic sensors (Audiomoth) mailed via the postal service to overcome landholder concerns about researchers accessing private property, with a focus on properties used for private native forestry. We surveyed koalas, an iconic threatened marsupial, in north‐east New South Wales, Australia using passive acoustics, with repeat surveys over consecutive nights to account for imperfect detection in an occupancy modelling framework. Over 3 years, we surveyed 128 sites and recorded 2,560 male bellows. Detection probability over seven nights was high ( .79), but varied substantially between years, due to use of different sensors, housings and weather conditions. After accounting for detection probability, modelling revealed that koalas commonly occupied private native forests of the study region (probability of occupancy = 0.58 ± 0.08). Occupancy was modelled against several covariates and it varied with the landscape extent of sealed roads (₋ve), NDVI (₋ve) and a habitat suitability model (+ve, but minor). There was no support for occupancy in private forests to be related to a range of other factors including extent of surrounding cleared land, timber harvesting history, fire and other measured habitat features. Synthesis and applications . We conclude that mini‐acoustic recorders mailed to landholders were a highly effective method for assessing koala occupancy, after accounting for variable detection, and the approach could be deployed more widely for a range of species. Private native forests in partly cleared landscapes are commonly occupied by koalas, highlighting that this tenure is crucial for koala conservation and that practices seeking to balance conservation and production should be encouraged. In addition to sensitive habitat management in private forests, sealed road density is a major threat needing to be addressed.

Automated species identification of frog choruses in environmental recordings using acoustic indices

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Date: 12-2020

DOI: 10.1016/J.ECOLIND.2020.106852

A novel frog chorusing recognition method with acoustic indices and machine learning

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Date: 12-2021

DOI: 10.1016/J.FUTURE.2021.06.019

The Australian Acoustic Observatory

Publisher: Wiley

Date: 10-07-2021

DOI: 10.1111/2041-210X.13660

Abstract: Fauna surveys are traditionally manual, and hence limited in scale, expensive and labour‐intensive. Low‐cost hardware and storage mean that acoustic recording now has the potential to efficiently build scale in terrestrial fauna surveys, both spatially and temporally. With this aim, we have constructed the Australian Acoustic Observatory. It provides a direct and permanent record of terrestrial soundscapes through continuous recording across Australian ecoregions, including those periodically subject to fire and flood, when manual surveys are dangerous or impossible. The observatory comprises 360 permanent listening stations deployed across Australia. Groups of four sensors are deployed at each of 90 sites, placed strategically across ecoregions, to provide representative datasets of soundscapes. Each station continuously records sound, resulting in year‐round data collection. All data are made freely available under an open access licence. The Australian Acoustic Observatory is the world's first terrestrial acoustic observatory of this size. It provides continental‐scale environmental monitoring of unparalleled spatial extent, temporal resolution and archival stability. It enables new approaches to understanding ecosystems, long‐term environmental change, data visualization and acoustic science that will only increase in scientific value over time, particularly as others replicate the design in other parts of the world.

Queensland University Of Technology

Location: Australia

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Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0668447

Start Date: 05-2006

End Date: 11-2007

Amount: $320,000.00

Funder: Australian Research Council

Linkage Projects - Grant ID: LP0776341

Start Date: 02-2008

End Date: 12-2011

Amount: $376,267.00

Funder: Australian Research Council

Discovery Projects - Grant ID: DP190101647

Start Date: 03-2019

End Date: 06-2023

Amount: $585,000.00

Funder: Australian Research Council

Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0775726

Start Date: 02-2007

End Date: 02-2008

Amount: $306,270.00

Funder: Australian Research Council

Discovery Projects - Grant ID: DP110105127

Start Date: 2011

End Date: 12-2013

Amount: $210,000.00

Funder: Australian Research Council

Discovery Projects - Grant ID: DP140102325

Start Date: 06-2014

End Date: 06-2017

Amount: $477,000.00

Funder: Australian Research Council

Discovery Projects - Grant ID: DP170104004

Start Date: 2017

End Date: 05-2021

Amount: $420,500.00

Funder: Australian Research Council

Linkage Projects - Grant ID: LP120200329

Start Date: 10-2012

End Date: 12-2015

Amount: $600,000.00

Funder: Australian Research Council

Discovery Projects - Grant ID: DP150104001

Start Date: 2015

End Date: 02-2018

Amount: $513,000.00

Funder: Australian Research Council

Linkage Projects - Grant ID: LP0562130

Start Date: 03-2006

End Date: 12-2009

Amount: $327,500.00

Funder: Australian Research Council

Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0567493

Start Date: 09-2005

End Date: 06-2007

Amount: $99,146.00

Funder: Australian Research Council

Discovery Projects - Grant ID: DP200101365

Start Date: 07-2020

End Date: 12-2024

Amount: $560,082.00

Funder: Australian Research Council

Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE170100033

Start Date: 05-2017

End Date: 12-2024

Amount: $900,000.00

Funder: Australian Research Council

Linkage Projects - Grant ID: LP150100675

Start Date: 11-2015

End Date: 12-2020

Amount: $593,519.00

Funder: Australian Research Council