Researchers investigated differences between urban and natural soundscapes around the world
In addition to researchers from the universities of Jyväskylä and Helsinki, the international study involved researchers from over thirty countries. Samples were collected by automatic recorders from 139 locations over several years.
People hear birds singing late at night and early in the morning
From the collected audio material, researchers analysed various descriptive indicators. For example, they examined the amount of sound energy present in low and high frequencies, as well as the variation in the sounds. The sounds were also classified into different categories, including human speech, vehicle sounds, and natural sounds such as rain and wind. Bird species were also automatically identified based on the sounds they produce.
“The collected sound data provides evidence of predictable rhythms in nature,” says University Researcher Panu Somervuo from the University of Helsinki. “For example, birds sing most actively in the morning and evening as well as in spring.”
Birds are an important part of urban green spaces
One of the most surprising findings of this study was that the number of bird species in urban green areas was, on average, greater than in natural environments.
“Green areas are often highly diverse, so a one-hectare monitoring plot can serve as a habitat for several bird species,” says Academy Professor Otso Ovaskainen from the Ģֱ. “However, this does not mean that natural areas in their original state are unimportant to birds, since species living there cannot be found in urban areas.”
The study was published in the prestigious Nature Ecology & Evolution series July 9, 2025.
Publication data:
- Human contributions to global soundscapes are less predictable than the acoustic rhythms of wildlife
- Link to the article:
Further information:
- Academy Professor Otso Ovaskainen, Ģֱ, otso.t.ovaskainen@jyu.fi, +358 50 309 2795
- Senior Researcher Panu Somervuo, University of Helsinki, panu.somervuo@helsinki.fi
- LIFEPLAN project, University of Helsinki,
- Predictive Community Ecology Group: /en/research-groups/predictive-community-ecology-group
ERC-funded researchers at JYU: Otso Ovaskainen
Otso Ovaskainen is a professor of mathematical and statistical ecology at the Ģֱ. Ovaskainen is a world-class expert in mathematical and statistical modelling. He has developed new methods for empirical data collection and statistical analysis in ecological research. The methods have been used all over the world.
Currently, Otso Ovaskainen is leading an internationally unique study in which the diversity of nature is mapped at the same time all over the world. Data on species are collected through DNA and audio samples and camera trap photos utilising automation-based methods. In 2019, the research received 12 million euros of ERC funding.
Ovaskainen also leads a research project that has developed the highly popular mobile app (Muuttolintujen kevät), which recognises birds by sound.
