Research and Guidance
Naturesound’s work is grounded in peer-reviewed research and the development of national guidance on ecoacoustic methods. Our research has contributed to the advancement of soundscape analysis, acoustic survey design and long-term monitoring approaches across terrestrial, freshwater and soil ecosystems.
We have led the development of practical guidance for bird surveys using ecoacoustics, long-term acoustic monitoring and the application of ecoacoustic methods within policy and assessment contexts. This work underpins the structured, defensible approaches we apply in consultancy projects.
Guidance
Abrahams, C. & Ruiz-Arana, U. (2025) How to design landscapes that enhance natural soundscapes and minimise noise pollution. The Conversation
Abrahams, C. (2023) Acoustic Bird Surveys, in: Bird Survey & Assessment Steering Group. Bird Survey Guidelines for assessing ecological impacts, v.1.1.1. https://birdsurveyguidelines.org
Metcalf, O., Abrahams, C. et al. (2022) Good practice guidelines for long-term ecoacoustic monitoring in the UK. UK Acoustics Network.
Abrahams, C. (2018) Bird Bioacoustic Surveys -- developing a standard protocol. In Practice 102: 20-23
Ecoacoustics
Dawson W, Evans D.M., Abrahams, C., Kitson, J.J.N., Collins, L., Cuff, J.P. (2026) Ecoacoustics for context-rich direct and indirect trophic interaction data and ecological network construction. Methods in Ecology and Evolution In Press.
Taylor, A.F., Breed, M.F., Abrahams, C. et al (2026) Hums in the humus: opportunities and challenges for soil ecoacoustics. Trends in Ecology & Evolution
Abrahams, C., Pickett, D., Finocchio-Daniels, S. & Bush, A. (2025) Monitoring Amphibians in a Changing Climate: Conservation Assessment of Natterjack Toad Epidalea calamita Using Ecoacoustics. Journal of Nature Conservation 89: 127165
Gitau, C., Kettel, E., Abrahams, C., Webala, P.W. and Uzal, A. (2025) The role of ecoacoustics in monitoring ecosystem degradation and restoration. Restoration Ecology e70168.
Metcalf, O.C., Nunes, C.A., Abrahams, C., Baccaro, F.B., Bradfer-Lawrence, T., Lees, A.C., Vale, E.M. & Barlow, J. (2024) The efficacy of acoustic indices for monitoring abundance and diversity in soil soundscapes, Ecological Indicators, 169: 112954
Challéat, S., Farrugia, N., Froidevaux, J.S.P.... Abrahams, C. et al. (2024) A dataset of acoustic measurements from soundscapes collected worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sci Data 11, 928
Bradfer-Lawrence, T., Duthie, B., Abrahams, C., et al. (2024). The Acoustic Index User's Guide: A practical manual for defining, generating and understanding current and future acoustic indices. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 00, 1–11.
Bush, A., Abrahams, C. & August, T. (2023) Monitoring Biodiversity Net Gain: Potential Contributions from Ecoacoustics. In Practice 122. CIEEM
Abrahams, C., Longley, J. & Metcalf. O. (2023) Ecoacoustic Bird Surveys: Comparison with traditional survey methods. Baker Consultants Ltd, UK.
August, T; Pocock, M.J.O .... Abrahams, C. (2022) Realising the potential for acoustic monitoring to address environmental policy needs. JNCC Research Report
Roy, D.B., Abrahams, C., August, T., Christelow, J., Gerard, F., Howell, K., Logie, M., McCracken, M., Pallet, D., Pocock, M., Read, D.S. & Staley, J. (2021) Developing technologies for agri-environment monitoring. Defra M&E Baseline/Programme Development Report LM04108.
Abrahams, C., Desjonquères, C. & Greenhalgh, J. (2021) Pond Acoustic Sampling Scheme: A draft protocol for rapid acoustic data collection in small waterbodies. Ecology and Evolution. 11:7532--7543.
Abrahams, C. & Geary, M. (2020). Combining bioacoustics and occupancy modelling for improved monitoring of rare breeding bird populations. Ecological Indicators, 112. 106131
Docker, S., Lowe, A. & Abrahams, C. (2020) Identification of different song types in the European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus. Bird Study 6(1): 119-127
Abrahams, C. (2019) Comparison between lek counts and bioacoustic recording for monitoring Western Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus L.). Journal of Ornithology 160(3): 685-697
Abrahams, C. & Denny, M.J.H (2018) A first test of unattended, acoustic recorders for monitoring Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus lekking activity. Bird Study 65(2): 197-207
Ecology
White, P., Le Goff, L., Emery, L., Abrahams, C., et al (2025) Bots on the Ground vs Boots on the Ground: The Future of Robots in Terrestrial Ecological Surveying. In Practice, 127: 47-52
Humphries, N., Price, D. & Abrahams, C. (2024) Outcomes of a Bat-Box Mitigation Scheme in a Mining Development in South Wales, UK. Reclamation Sciences 1: 73-80
Abrahams, C. (2019). Ecological Survey Requirements: Conflicts Between Local Validation Checklists and National Guidance. In Practice 103: 10-12
Abrahams, C. & Nash, D.J. (2018) Do we need more evidence-based survey guidance? In Practice 100: 53-56
Arntzen, J.W., Abrahams, C., Meilink, W.R.M., Iosif, R. & Zuiderwijk, A. (2017) Amphibian decline, pond loss and reduced population connectivity under agricultural intensification over a 38 year period. Biodiversity and Conservation 26: 1411-1430
Abrahams, C. (2008) Climate change and lakeshore conservation: a model and review of management techniques. Hydrobiologia 613: 33--43
Abrahams, C. (2008) All ebb and flow -- droughts, floods and lakes in the future landscape. Journal of Practical Ecology and Conservation 7(1): 9-17
Abrahams, C. (2007) Lakes, water levels and climate change. ECOS 28(3/4): 40-45
Abrahams, C. (2006) Sustainable shorelines: the management and revegetation of drawdown zones. Journal of Practical Ecology and Conservation 6(1): 37-51
Abrahams, C. (2005) The ecology and management of drawdown zones. British Wildlife 16(6): 395-402
Abrahams, C. (1999) Fowl/Play: balancing conservation and recreation on reservoirs in the Peak District. Journal of Practical Ecology and Conservation 3(1): 73-74