About the Project

The Hudson River Estuary supports a wide range of fish, including a number of migratory and endangered species. Advances in ecosystem monitoring technologies, including passive acoustic monitoring, have enabled the Hudson River NERR to address critical management challenges including understanding how fish species use the estuary, monitoring species population dynamics of protected and endangered animals, and creating engaging communication tools that inspire public stewardship of key fish species. In close collaboration with HRNERR, NYSDEC, and Cornell University, this project team implemented passive acoustic monitoring techniques. With the resulting monitoring data, the team characterized a diverse range of soundscapes across latitudinal and salinity gradients along the Hudson River, and compared sounds from tributary and wetland habitats to those of the main channel of the river.

About this Resource

Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) is increasingly used as part of ongoing management and conservation efforts to help understand and sustain fisheries. This guide is intended as an entry-level tool for ecological managers as well as traditional researchers who are looking to utilize PAM in their work. The guide describes the fisheries management uses of passive bioacoustic monitoring including the challenges and opportunities of PAM, as well as short case studies for various ecological questions and management scenarios.