Bioacoustics for tropical conservation
This project will develop acoustic recognisers to support conservation in the Gola Rainforest, Sierra Leone. Using analytical methods, such as BirdNET, it will assess the presence of key species, including hornbills and primates.
Overview
This project will develop acoustic recognisers to support conservation in the Gola Rainforest, Sierra Leone. Using analytical methods, such as BirdNET, it will assess the presence of key species, including hornbills and primates.
Contact: Tom Bradfer-Lawrence: tom.bradferlawrence@rspb.org.uk
Closing date: 28th February 2027
Timescale: 4-6 months
Location: Desk based
Resources available: Data and training
Key rquirements: This desk-based project would suit a student with a ‘good ear’ for wildlife sounds, an interest in the application of technology in conservation, and good knowledge of GIS and R software.
Background
The Greater Gola Landscape in Sierra Leone supports over 300 bird species and more than 15 high conservation value mammal species. The RSPB works with the Gola Rainforest Company, Conservation Society of Sierra Leone, the Government of Sierra Leone, and local communities to protect the forest. Central to this work is understanding the long-term spatial and temporal trends in biodiversity. As part of this, we survey mammals and birds - including using passive acoustic monitoring - to collect standardised data to support evidence-based conservation.
We need to develop custom acoustic recognisers for high conservation value species such as Yellow-casqued Hornbill, Ceratogymna elata, and Western Chimpanzee, Pan troglodytes verus. This will speed data processing and yield new conservation insights.
Methods and aims
The student will build on an existing call library for the focal species and then build custom recognisers in BirdNET. Recogniser outputs will be refined to generate detection data for use in occupancy models.
If time permits, the student could extend these models to predict the distributions of focal species, helping to guide future surveys and conservation action.
Learn more about this placement
To learn more about this placement, or to express your interest, please contact Tom Bradfer-Lawrence: tom.bradferlawrence@rspb.org.uk