Applications of bioacoustics in animal ecology

In communication animals use a full range of signals: acoustic, visual, chemical, electrical and tactile. The processes involved in how and why animals communicate have long held veritable fascination for scientists. A branch of science concerned with the production of sound and its effects on living organisms is bioacoustics. The main purpose of the present study is to raise and discuss some issues related to the relationship between animals, their sounds and ecology, including presentation of methods of analysis of sound recordings. A better understanding of the relationship between the studied animals will allow for development of a better framework for future research, as well as a better grasp of interactions between different organisms, including humans. The paper discusses the significance of acoustic research in animal ecology and its possible applications in the future. The author also summarizes previous research in the field of sound communication of various animal species. The paper proves that vocalizations of every acoustically communicating animal are threatened by climate change. For marine animals, the source of changes in vocalization abilities is ocean acidification and increased ambient noise, which can affect communication and foraging behavior. For terrestrial animals, changes in precipitation and temperature may result in modifications of the sounds emitted, as well as certain modifications to the auditory system. Together with changes in species distribution due to environmental parameters, cumulatively these factors can cause changes in the entire landscape of acoustics ecosystems. Thanks to acoustic biomonitoring, we can understand how the sounds of entire habitats and acoustic ecosystems will change in response to the changing climate and how it will affect bioacoustics on a global scale.