A glossary for bioacoustics and ecoacoustics
I’ve launched a new Bioacoustics & Ecoacoustics Glossary.
The site is a simple reference for the terminology used across bioacoustics, ecoacoustics, and related areas of sound and ecology. It brings together a large body of terms that are often spread across books, papers, field guides, and specialist communities.
The language of this field is both rich and uneven. Terms like biophony, soundscape, chirp, echeme, duty cycle, and acoustic space can be familiar to specialists, but they are not always easy for newcomers to interpret.
Terminology in bioacoustics is also not always consistent. Historical terms remain in use, alternative labels appear in different literatures, and subtle distinctions matter. A shared definition list, with cross-references and citations, helps to clarify where terms overlap and where they differ.
I hope this resource will be useful to anyone working with animal sound, environmental acoustics, or soundscape ecology. It is a living reference and will continue to expand over time.
If you are exploring the vocabulary of bioacoustics, the glossary is a good place to start.