Worldwide Soundscapes: a synthesis of passive acoustic monitoring across realms
Authors: Darras Kevin FA , Rountree Rodney , Van Wilgenburg Steven , Cord Anna F , Pitz Frederik , Chen Youfang , Dong Lijun , Gasc Amandine , Lin Tzu-Hao , Diaz Patrick Mauritz , Wu Shih-Hung , Salton Marcus , Marley Sarah , Schillé Laura , Wensveen Paul Jacobus , Desjonquères Camille , Acevedo-Charry Orlando , Adam Matyáš , Aguzzi Jacopo , André Michel , Antonelli Alexandre , Aparecido Do Nascimento Leandro , Appel Giulliana , Astaras Christos , Atemasov Andrey , Barbaro Luc , Basan Fritjof , Batist Carly , Baucells Adriá López , Baumgarten Julio Ernesto , Bayle Sempere Just T , Bellisario Kristen , Ben David Asaf , Berger-Tal Oded , Betts Matthew G , Bhalla Iqbal , Bicudo Thiago , Bolgan Marta , Bombaci Sara , Boullhesen Martin , Bradfer-Lawrence Tom , Briers Robert A , Budka Michal , Burchard Katie , Calvente Alice , Cerezo-Araujo Maite , Cerwén Gunnar , Chistopolova Maria , Clark Christopher W , Cretois Benjamin , Czarnecki Chapin , da Silva Luis P , da Silva Wigna , De Clippele Laurence H , de la Haye David , de Oliveira Tissiani Ana Silvia , de Zwaan Devin , Díaz-Delgado Ricardo , Diniz Pedro , Diógenes Oliveira-Júnior Dorgival , Dorigo Thiago , Dröge Saskia , Duarte Marina , Duarte Adam , Dunleavy Kerry , Dziak Robert , Elise Simon , Enari Hiroto , Enari Haruka S , Erbs Florence , Ferrari Nina , Ferreira Luane , Fleishman Abram B , Freitas Bárbara , Friedman Nick , Froidevaux Jérémy SP , Gogoleva Svetlana , Gonçalves Maria Isabel , Gonzaga Carolina , González Correa José Miguel , Goodale Eben , Gottesman Benjamin , Grass Ingo , Greenhalgh Jack , Gregoire Jocelyn , Hagge Jonas , Halliday William , Hammer Antonia , Hanf-Dressler Tara , Haver Samara , Hending Daniel , Hernandez-Blanco Jose , Hiller Thomas , Huang Joe Chun-Chia , Hutchinson Katie Lois , Jackson Janet , Jacot Alain , Jahn Olaf , Kanes Jasper , Kenchington Ellen , Kepfer-Rojas Sebastian , Kitzes Justin , Kusuminda Tharaka , Lehnardt Yael , Leitman Paula , Leon José , Lima-Santos Cicero Simão , Lloyd Kyle John , Looby Audrey , López-Bosch David , Maeda Tatiana , Mammides Christos , Marcacci Gabriel , Markolf Matthias , Marques Marinez Isaac , Martin Charles W , Martin Dominic A , Martin Kathy , McKown Matthew , McLeod Logan JT , Metcalf Oliver , Meyer Christoph , Mikusinski Grzegorz , Moreira Sugai Larissa Sayuri , Morris Dave , Müller Sandra , Murchy Kelsie A , Navarro Maria Mas , Nouioua Rym , Olden Julian D , Oppel Steffen , Osiecka Anna N , Parsons Miles , Pereira Samarra Filipa Isabel , Pérez-Granados Cristian , Piatti Liliana , Pichorim Mauro , Pinheiro Thiago , Pradervand Jean-Nicolas , Radford Craig , Ramalho Emiliano , Reynolds Laura K , Riede Klaus , Rimmer Talen , Rocha Ricardo , Rocha Luciana , Ross Samuel RP-J , Rosten Carolyn , Salustio-Gomes Carlos , Samartzis Philip , Santos José , Scharffenberg Kevin , Schoeman Renée P , Schuchmann Karl-Ludwig , Sebastián-González Esther , Shabangu Fannie , Shaw Taylor , Shen Xiaoli , Singer David , Stanley Jenni , Thomisch Karolin , Torrent Laura , Traba Juan , Tremblay Junior A , Tseng Sunny , Tuanmu Mao-Ning , Valverde Marisol , Vernasco Ben , Vital da Paz Raiane , Ward Matthew , Weldy Matthew , Wiel Julia , Willie Jacob , Wood Heather , Li Songhai , Sousa-Lima Renata , Wanger Thomas Cherico 
Published: April 2024

The urgency for remote, reliable, and scalable biodiversity monitoring amidst mounting human pressures on climate and ecosystems has sparked worldwide interest in Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM), but there has been no comprehensive overview of its coverage across realms. We present metadata from 358 datasets recorded since 1991 in and above land and water constituting the first global synthesis of sampling coverage across spatial, temporal, and ecological scales. We compiled summary statistics (sampling locations, deployment schedules, focal taxa, and recording parameters) and used eleven case studies to assess trends in biological, anthropogenic, and geophysical sounds. Terrestrial sampling is spatially denser (42 sites/M·km2) than aquatic sampling (0.2 and 1.3 sites/M·km2in oceans and freshwater) with only one subterranean dataset. Although diel and lunar cycles are well-covered in all realms, only marine datasets (65%) comprehensively sample all seasons. Across realms, biological sounds show contrasting diel activity, while declining with distance from the equator and anthropogenic activity. PAM can thus inform phenology, macroecology, and conservation studies, but representation can be improved by widening terrestrial taxonomic breadth, expanding coverage in the high seas, and increasing spatio-temporal replication in freshwater habitats. Overall, PAM shows considerable promise to support global biodiversity monitoring efforts.