The Effects of Forest Cover on Ecoacoustics

Abstract

Ecoacoustics is an expanding field that encompasses both natural and anthropogenic sounds found in habitats and their effects on the environment present. I conducted this study with a goal to determine how acoustic indices vary with differing forest cover in order to better understand these ecosystems, as well as to see if there was an impact of anthropogenic sounds on the environment. In order to do this, I used a combination of methods that utilized time honored human observation in the form of point counts along with innovative technology, audio recording units (ARUs), that has recently been introduced to the wildlife biology field. The results of this study suggest there is a positive relationship between forest cover and high-quality soundscapes, meaning there is an effect of forest cover on ecoacoustics. Though, concluding this study has given rise to more questions than answers in the study of ecoacoustics.