Passive acoustic monitoring of the endangered African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus) using autonomous recording units and ecoacoustic indices

• DOI: 10.1111/ibi.12970
• Publication Date: 2021-05-07T01:40:52Z
• Authors: Livio Favaro; Eleonora Cresta; Olivier Friard; Katrin Ludynia; Nicolas Mathevon; Lorien Pichegru; David Reby; Marco Gamba
• Keywords: 0106 biological sciences; Bioacoustics, Ecoacoustics, Seabirds, Soundscape, Penguins, Spheniscus; 14. Life underwater; 01 natural sciences

African Penguins Spheniscus demersus are endangered and declining seabirds which make extensive use of vocal signals for intra‐specific communication. Accordingly, passive acoustic monitoring tools could be developed as robust population methods that cause minimal disturbance to the birds. In this study, we collected soundscape recordings at Stony Point penguin colony (Betty’s Bay, South Africa) during breeding season in 2019 document circadian rhythms activity species investigate whether magnitude variation three different ecoacoustic indices correlates with number ecstatic mutual display songs counted recordings, might inform on colony. Indeed, whereas produced by males intersexual competition territorial defence, given parents returning nest after foraging trips. We found vast majority (> 80%) occurred between 04:00–08:00 17:30–21:30 h. also Acoustic Entropy Index was a good predictor penguins’ within recording. Overall, our study shows vocalizations have potential assist while minimizing disturbance.