Soundscapes are strongly linked with the physical structure and biological features of the habitats and their study can reveal ecological processes of the underwater environment. Objective of this study is to characterize two... more
Soundscapes are strongly linked with the physical structure and biological features of the habitats and their study can reveal ecological processes of the underwater environment. Objective of this study is to characterize two Mediterranean habitats, the Posidonia oceanica meadow and the sandy bottom, and demonstrate their acoustic diversification basing on their soundscapes. Firstly, the habitats have been compared using two different acoustic metrics, the Power Spectral Density (PSD) and the Acoustic Complexity Index (ACI), measured in different frequency band. Then, the acoustic biological component of the habitats has been identified and characterized: five biological signals were described and their acoustic properties and temporal patterns were defined. Finally, the geophonical and anthropogenic components of the two habitats have been compared. In the low frequency ( Results demonstrated not only the possibility to discriminate habitats through the sound information but also t...
