Indian soundcapes: a 17 years long acoustic journey: from analogical tape recording to passive acoustic monitoring PAM

Abstract

Since the year 2000, a total of seven trips have been made to India with the specific objective of obtaining sound recordings of different species and especially of soundscapes in a variety of places representative of the diversity of India’s ecosystems. Special attention was paid to nocturnal recordings during dusk-dawn periods. Since the beginning of the project, one of the main objectives has been the use of the recordings as an educational resource, in order to divulge and increase awareness regarding India’s natural patrimony. A selection of recordings are presented using QR code format to give an idea of the biodiversity reflected by the soundscapes. In January 2017 continuous recordings were made using Wildlife Acoustics SM4 recorders at a jungle farm adjacent to the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (Tamil Nadu). These continuous recordings have allowed us to obtain initial acoustic indices that reflect the relationship between biophony, anthrophony and biodiversity levels, as well as a first attempt at automated detection of specific vocalizations, such as the alarm calls of Cheetal (Axis axis) and Sambar (Rusa unicolor).