Introduction to Conservation Bioacoustics

Catalog description

This course provides a strong foundation in the discipline of conservation bioacoustics, the use of sound to assess biodiversity, monitor animal populations, and make conservation decisions. In lecture, students will learn the basics of how sound is recorded and visualized, how animals produce and perceive sounds, and how to select recording equipment that is appropriate to the question and application. The course lectures will also build skills in acoustic data analysis including manual annotation, template detection, and machine learning approaches. In lab, students will use recording equipment to make recordings, practice analyzing acoustic data using a variety of cutting-edge analysis approaches, and learn strategies for the curation and management of large datasets. This course is a mandatory pre-requisite for an optional marine and terrestrial field component that will take place in Hawaii. Additional information about the related trip will be provided in class.