This dataset contains audio files for Litchfield Savanna SuperSite. Litchfield Savanna SuperSite was established in 2013 in Litchfield National Park. Site selection was influenced by the history of long-term monitoring work undertaken in this area by the Darwin Centre for Bushfire Research (formerly Bushfires NT). The core 1 ha plot is dominated by Eucalyptus miniata and Eucalyptus tetrodonta. The site is representative of the dominant ecosystem type across northern Australia: frequently burnt tropical savanna in high rainfall areas. For additional site information, see Litchfield Savanna SuperSite
In 2015 an acoustic recorder was set up on the main flux tower. In 2016 a second record was set up on mini tower N. 5. The two recorders collected audio data for a total of 12 hours per day, split between six hours around dawn and six hours around dusk. The recording schedule aimed at capturing morning and evening bird choruses while minimizing memory and battery requirements. A long-term spectrogram has been generated for each audio file to aid in data exploration. The sensors also recorded temperature, minimum- maximum- and mean-sound pressure levels.
Data are made available through the data link. For downloading large amount of data, please follow these instructions How to download TERN's acoustic data in bulk
Credit
We at TERN acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians throughout Australia, New Zealand and all nations. We honour their profound connections to land, water, biodiversity and culture and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.
Research collaborators at the Litchfield Savanna SuperSite include: Charles Darwin University, Maitec (Dr Stefan Maier), CSIRO (Dr Shaun Levick), OzFlux, TERN, Darwin Centre for Bushfire Research, Northern Territory Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security and the University of Western Australia. The SuperSite is managed by Charles Darwin University and The University of Western Australia.
This work was funded by the Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN), an Australian Government National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) project.
Purpose
Long-term acoustic recordings are collected to characterise the acoustic sources in the ecosystem. Recordings can be used to estimate biodiversity, monitor temporal changes in the soundscape, compare the acoustic characteristics of different locations, and assess the effect of particular events such as bushfires and floods.
Lineage
Two acoustic sensors were set up to collect audio data as part of a continent wide long term monitoring project. The sensors were Wildlife Acoustics Song Meter 2. Each sensor had two microphones. According to manufacturer's specifications the microphones sensitivity was -36±4 dB (0 dB=1 V/Pa at 1 kHz). One sensor was mounted on the main flux tower, while the other was mounted on mini tower N. 5. Data were recorded for a total of 12 hours per day, split between six hours around dawn and six hours around dusk. Recordings were made as dual channel, three-hour long wac files, and were later converted into flac format. They had a sampling rate of 22,050 Hz or 44,100 Hz and a depth of 16 bits. Long-term spectrograms have been created for the audio files and are avaialble through the data link.
The sensors also recorded 'ancillary data' such as temperature, minimum- maximum- and mean-sound pressure levels.
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