Expanding biodiversity monitoring in the southwestern United States with passive acoustic monitoring
| Authors: | Jamie S. Sanderlin, Gavin M. Jones, Brenda E. Strohmeyer, Connor M. Wood, Valerie Stein Foster, Rene Guaderrama, Andrea Chavez, Paige Handley, Stefan Kahl, Rebecca Kirby, Kari E. Norman, Jack Williams |
| Year: | 2025 |
| Type: | Scientific Journal |
| Station: | Rocky Mountain Research Station |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1894/0038-4909-69.4.14 |
| Source: | The Southwestern Naturalist |
Abstract
Wildlife monitoring technologies like passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) show great promise in overcoming biodiversity monitoring challenges over broad spatial scales. We demonstrate that PAM can be an effective monitoring approach for wildlife species and communities in the southwestern United States. After collecting >51,000 hours of audio data in the Cibola, Gila, and Kaibab National Forests, we processed data with the BirdNET algorithm. We confirmed that BirdNET can currently identify at least fifty-two species, including six species of management interest: the Mexican spotted owl (Strix occidentalis lucida), pinyon jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus), yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus), Grace’s warbler (Setophaga graciae), western bluebird (Sialia mexicana), and Mexican gray wolf (Canis lupus baileyi). We detected many species during our pilot study to target future validation efforts and algorithm refinement (n=93). Results from this study are an integral part of designing a regional PAM program in the Southwest to evaluate trends in individual species and animal communities in response to multiple stressors.