For the future

Should future evaluation of the software show that it has the ability to effi-ciently distinguish between different types of calls (call for a mate, warning etc.) it would be possible to study behaviour based on the soundscape as well as (for example) note how much stress, and therefore lack of resource it takes to create the fault bars (Möller et al, 2009). The vast knowledge and experiences in the ornithologist community can help developing this rela-tively new survey method and advances in the technology can in turn im-prove ornithology and conservation of avian species (Gasc et al, 2016).

The fact that the software can provide the researchers with information on when a species is most dominant in its singing is something that can be useful to know for future single species studies and/or behaviour studies. If the recorder can be set up in the same plot year after year the collected in-formation can be used to examine behaviour changes of inhabitants during pre-breeding season as well as in seasons with less intensive vocalisations.

Surveying birds with permanently placed recorders also makes it possible to notice any change in breeding season, the abundance of species as well as the species diversity and maybe even provide the researchers with infor-mation about individuals and whether they are returning to the same site over seasons. This in turn might show how many years a bird of a certain

species is in top condition and able to keep a nesting site in a high-quality habitat.

Biodiversity measures can be followed year by year to see if a species is only remaining as a relic, or if the breeding is still successful, and this kind of monitoring can be useful to follow the abundance, species diversity and evenness of a plot for a longer time. For example, the soundscape method could be useful when monitoring and measuring change over time in areas that are affected by for forestry and urbanization, a so called BACI (Before – After – Control – Impact) study designs. It’s not always possible, finan-cially or time wise, to measure the biodiversity and abundance of species for a long time before an impact and after it and at the same time keep regu-lar investigations going in a control area. The recording of soundscapes can be a way to keep track of the changes in both abundance and biodiversity for vocal animals.

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Gasc, A., Francomano, D., Dunning, J., & Pijanowski, B. (2017). “Future directions for soundscape ecology: The importance of ornithological con-tributions.” The Auk. 134. 215-228. 10.1642/AUK-16-124.1.

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Stuart, A., Newman, M., Struik, P. and Martin, I. (2012). “Development of a non-intrusive method for investigating the calling patterns of Rufous Scrub-birds.” The Whistler 6: 24-34.

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I’d like to say a big thank you to Julian Klein for letting me use his in-vestigation plots for my recordings, helping to choose plots with the hugest differences in quality and for providing me with data from his monitoring.

A big thank you also to Sönke Eggers who took the time to help me sort-ing out which species that had been recorded and clustered when the files were too short for making it possible for anyone but an expert to name them.

And of course, to my supervisors Matthew Hiron and Göran Hartman for your encouragement and for engaging far more time in my project than I had expected, thank you!

Acknowledgements