Habitat of the monitoring site

The monitoring site was located in a natural broad-leaved forest dominated by tree species of Lauraceae and Fagaceae at 818 meters in altitude.

Method for deploying the acoustic recorder

We used Wildlife Acoustics Song Meter SM2+ to monitor the soundscape of LHC. The deployment method was described as the following steps:

Formatting SD memory card

Because SM2+ cannot read the 128GB SD card in exFAT32 or NTFS format, the new SDXC card must be reformated into FAT32 format by a formatting tool, e.g., SmartDisk_FAT32_tool.exe. The following list included the tools: * SanDisk 128GB SDXC Class10 * SanDisk USB3.0 SD card reader * SmartDisk FAT32 tool

Configuring Wildlife Acoustics Song Meter SM2+

Using Song Meter SM2+ Configuration Utility downloaded from Wildlife Acoustics (http://www.wildlifeacoustics.com/support/download-software) to set up the daily schedule and parameters for autpmatic sound recording.

The schedule was set to start recording for 5 minutes every hour and half-hour.

The audio quality settings weres configured as 1) sampling rate 44.1 kHz; 2) stereo channel; 3) WAV file format; 4) zero microphone gain; 5) keep all filters and sensors off.

File prefix follows the pattern of Organization-Site code.

The capacity was set as: 1) only activate 1st SD card slot with 128GB; 2) %compress 100; 3) internal power source with alkaline batteries.

Save the setting file on computer disk then copy it a 128GB SD memory card.

The following list included the tools: * Wildlife Acoustic Song Meter SM2+ * Song Meter SM2+ Configuration Utility

Setting up SM2+

Follow the SM2+ user manual to set up SM2+ before going out the field.

Keep power switch off and insert the 128GB SD card into slot A.

Install four fresh D-size alkaline batteries. If the internal clock is not accurate, replace two fresh AA-size alkaline batteries.

Set the microphone amplifier configuration swtichs: 1 (On, 2.5V Bias); 2-3-4-5 (On-Off-On-Off, High Pass 3 Hz); 6-7-8-9 (Off-On-Off-Off).

Turn on the power switch to check the status and load the setting file from SD card (User Manual Page 28).

Check the recording by manual trigger (User Manual Page 46).

Field deployment

Mount the SM2+ on a tree with DBH close to the width of the recorder.

Connect the two SMX-II microphones to the recorder.

Open the cover and turn on the switch to check the status. If OK, then press the WAKE/EXIT button to let it sleep.

Use the 3M tape (or similar alternatives) to seal the connected part between microphones and recorder as well as the upper part of the recorder cover, preventing raindrops seeping into the recorder.

Monthly site maintenance and data management

Monthly revisit the field site to replace fresh batteries, microphones, and 128GB SDXC memory card.

Remove excess water on the microphone windscreen sponges and placing the microphones taken back from the field in an electrical dehumidifying box with RH% setting < 50%.

Copy all the soundscape recording files from SD card to hard disk.

Follow the file naming pattern CountryCode_OrganizationCode_SiteCode_Date_Time and use the freeware Advanced Renamer (http://www.advancedrenamer.com/) to batch rename all files.

Duplicate all renamed soundscape recording files to hard disks and upload to the Asian Soundscape Open Archive (http://soundscape.twgrid.org).