Biodiversity Loss Research Articles

Towards a standardized framework for AI-assisted, image-based monitoring of nocturnal insects.

Automated sensors have potential to standardize and expand the monitoring of insects across the globe. As one of the most scalable and fastest developing sensor technologies, we describe a framework for automated, image-based monitoring of nocturnal insects-from sensor development and field deployment to workflows for data processing and publishing. Sensors comprise a light to attract insects, a camera for collecting images and a computer for scheduling, data storage and processing. Metadata is important to describe sampling schedules that balance the capture of relevant ecological information against power and data storage limitations. Large data volumes of images from automated systems necessitate scalable and effective data processing. We describe computer vision approaches for the detection, tracking and classification of insects, including models built from existing aggregations of labelled insect images. Data from automated camera systems necessitate approaches that account for inherent biases. We advocate models that explicitly correct for bias in species occurrence or abundance estimates resulting from the imperfect detection of species or individuals present during sampling occasions. We propose ten priorities towards a step-change in automated monitoring of nocturnal insects, a vital task in the face of rapid biodiversity loss from global threats. This article is part of the theme issue 'Towards a toolkit for global insect biodiversity monitoring'.

Monitoring aerial insect biodiversity: a radar perspective.

In the current biodiversity crisis, populations of many species have alarmingly declined, and insects are no exception to this general trend. Biodiversity monitoring has become an essential asset to detect biodiversity change but remains patchy and challenging for organisms that are small, inconspicuous or make (nocturnal) long-distance movements. Radars are powerful remote-sensing tools that can provide detailed information on intensity, timing, altitude and spatial scale of aerial movements and might therefore be particularly suited for monitoring aerial insects and their movements. Importantly, they can contribute to several essential biodiversity variables (EBVs) within a harmonized observation system. We review existing research using small-scale biological and weather surveillance radars for insect monitoring and outline how the derived measures and quantities can contribute to the EBVs 'species population', 'species traits', 'community composition' and 'ecosystem function'. Furthermore, we synthesize how ongoing and future methodological, analytical and technological advancements will greatly expand the use of radar for insect biodiversity monitoring and beyond. Owing to their long-term and regional-to-large-scale deployment, radar-based approaches can be a powerful asset in the biodiversity monitoring toolbox whose potential has yet to be fully tapped. This article is part of the theme issue 'Towards a toolkit for global insect biodiversity monitoring'.

The effects of grassland degradation on the genetic structure of a small mammal.

Grassland degradation is challenging the health of grassland ecosystems globally and causing biodiversity decline. Previous studies have demonstrated the impact of grassland degradation on the abundance and behavior of small mammals. Little is known about how it affects the genetic structure of gregarious mammals in the wild. This study explores the effects of grassland degradation on the genetic structure of a small burrowing mammal, plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae). We used nine microsatellite loci to analyze the genetic diversity and genetic differentiation between colonies and genetic relatedness between individuals within the colony. We found that pikas in severely degraded grasslands had a significantly higher genetic diversity within colonies, a higher level of gene flow between colonies, and a lower genetic differentiation between colonies compared to pikas in less degraded grasslands. Individuals within colonies had a significantly lower genetic relatedness in severely degraded grasslands than in less degraded grasslands. This study has provided potential evidence of a significant impact of grassland degradation on the genetic structure of pikas, which has caused a breakdown of their kin-selected colony structure.

The Tree of Life eDNA metabarcoding reveals a similar taxonomic richness but dissimilar evolutionary lineages between seaports and marine reserves.

Coastal areas host a major part of marine biodiversity but are seriously threatened by ever-increasing human pressures. Transforming natural coastlines into urban seascapes through habitat artificialization may result in loss of biodiversity and key ecosystem functions. Yet, the extent to which seaports differ from nearby natural habitats and marine reserves across the whole Tree of Life is still unknown. This study aimed to assess the level of α and β-diversity between seaports and reserves, and whether these biodiversity patterns are conserved across taxa and evolutionary lineages. For that, we used environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding to survey six seaports on the French Mediterranean coast and four strictly no-take marine reserves nearby. By targeting four different groups-prokaryotes, eukaryotes, metazoans and fish-with appropriate markers, we provide a holistic view of biodiversity on contrasted habitats. In the absence of comprehensive reference databases, we used bioinformatic pipelines to gather similar sequences into molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs). In contrast to our expectations, we obtained no difference in MOTU richness (α-diversity) between habitats except for prokaryotes and threatened fishes with higher diversity in reserves than in seaports. However, we observed a marked dissimilarity (β-diversity) between seaports and reserves for all taxa. Surprisingly, this biodiversity signature of seaports was preserved across the Tree of Life, up to the order. This result reveals that seaports and nearby marine reserves share few taxa and evolutionary lineages along urbanized coasts and suggests major differences in terms of ecosystem functioning between both habitats.

Museum of Extinction

This artistic research project combines an exploration of natural history conservation at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and museology at Museene i Sør-Trøndelag. The exposition is structured around Field Notes: qualitative records of my observations. Taking an ethnographic and interpretive phenomenological approach, I argue my hypothesis through the subjective experiences of the living, as well as the living dead. Drawing a correlation between the utilitarian subjugation of the animal-other and loss of biodiversity, I posit that the re-presentation of animal materialities in art and artefacts has the potential to re-form culture in the time of the sixth extinction.

Precision pest control using purpose-built uncrewed aerial system (UAS) technology and a novel bait pod system

Controlling invasive species is critical due to their impact on disease transmission, endangerment of native species, and biodiversity loss. While crewed aircraft can effectively distribute bait over large areas to target pests, their use becomes impractical and costly in small, isolated regions with rugged terrain. Though feasible in smaller sites, ground control operations pose challenges such as high expenses, safety risks, and potential worker injuries in hazardous terrain. An innovative approach employing unmanned aerial systems (UASs) for precise bait deployment has been developed to address these issues. Our team engineered a purpose-built system designed specifically for deploying bait within innovative bait pods. Field trials in New Zealand validated its efficacy, with significant improvements observed in subsequent trials due to enhancements in bait pod design. The median deployment accuracy achieved was 1.91 meters from the target, with no statistically significant difference between open and forested areas. This advanced system enables precise bait placement, facilitating pest control in complex landscapes, challenging terrain, and dense vegetation. Its smart functionality and adaptability allow maximum accuracy and efficiency across various aircraft and autopilot systems. This innovative tool holds promise in managing invasive species, complementing existing strategies to expedite ecosystem restoration and safeguard biodiversity.

A family of process-based models to simulate landscape use by multiple taxa

ContextLand-use change is a key driver of biodiversity loss. Models that accurately predict how biodiversity might be affected by land-use changes are urgently needed, to help avoid further negative impacts and inform landscape-scale restoration projects. To be effective, such models must balance model realism with computational tractability and must represent the different habitat and connectivity requirements of multiple species.ObjectivesWe explored the extent to which process-based modelling might fulfil this role, examining feasibility for different taxa and potential for informing real-world decision-making.MethodsWe developed a family of process-based models (*4pop) that simulate landscape use by birds, bats, reptiles and amphibians, derived from the well-established poll4pop model (designed to simulate bee populations). Given landcover data, the models predict spatially-explicit relative abundance by simulating optimal home-range foraging, reproduction, dispersal of offspring and mortality. The models were co-developed by researchers, conservation NGOs and volunteer surveyors, parameterised using literature data and expert opinion, and validated against observational datasets collected across Great Britain.ResultsThe models were able to simulate habitat specialists, generalists, and species requiring access to multiple habitats for different types of resources (e.g. breeding vs foraging). We identified model refinements required for some taxa and considerations for modelling further species/groups.ConclusionsWe suggest process-based models that integrate multiple forms of knowledge can assist biodiversity-inclusive decision-making by predicting habitat use throughout the year, expanding the range of species that can be modelled, and enabling decision-makers to better account for landscape context and habitat configuration effects on population persistence.

Leveraging virtual datasets to investigate the interplay of pollinators, protected areas, and SDG 15

Biodiversity loss amplifies the need for taxonomic understanding at global, regional, and local scales. The United Nations Environmental Programme Sustainable Development Goals are explicit in their demand for greater accountability with respect to ecosystem management, and Sustainable Development Goal 15, Life on Land, specifically calls for a halt to biodiversity loss. Pollinators (bees and butterflies) are two functional groups with public attention for protection, yet little long-term data availability. National Parks, including those in the United States, act as optimal sites to study biodiversity loss, but historic data tends to vary in availability. This study addresses systematic taxonomic and digitalization biases present within historic (museum), modern (citizen science), and non-digitized (private collection) datasets for Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks from 1900 to 2021. We find that, although database record availability is representative of butterfly and bumble bee groups known for the area, categories such as data rescue, digitalization/availability, and management/archiving vary across database types. These findings on virtual datasets offer opportunities for conservationists to understand the efficacy of digitized collections in addressing questions of species loss over time, including the strengths and pitfalls of digitized data repositories. Additionally, virtual datasets can be utilized to monitor biodiversity under Sustainable Development Goal 15 targets while also promoting broader access to resources such as museum collections for educational purposes.

Perceptions of stakeholders on nature-based solutions in urban planning: a thematic analysis in six European cities

A commonly addressed aspect of urban planning involves the integration of nature-based solutions (NBS). Before applying NBS, acquiring stakeholders' viewpoints, e.g., city councils, local governments, and academia, contributes to the successful application and thus to mitigation of global challenges such as climate change, loss of biodiversity, water, and food scarcity. The present study explores how stakeholders across Europe view the role of NBS in urban planning. A thematic analysis was conducted to identify patterns, themes, and concepts within interview transcripts gathered through semi-structured interviews held in Budapest, Cordoba, Ljubljana, Reykjavik, Vienna, and Zurich. The study resulted in 107 distinctive codes categorized into NBS benefits, challenges, opportunities, NBS actors, and regulations. The frequency of codes (Fr) mentioned by the interviewees showed that NBS benefit cooperation (Fr=125) between individuals, while the most challenging issue obstructing NBS implementation was the lack of NBS knowledge (Fr=93). The need for green areas (Fr=42) was identified as an opportunity that could give rise to NBS applications. This study also provides practical recommendations to overcome some barriers when implementing NBS.

A systematic review on microplastic contamination in marine Crustacea and Mollusca of Asia: Current scenario, concentration, characterization, polymeric risk assessment, and future Prospectives.

Microplastics (MPs) pollution has wreaked havoc on biodiversity and food safety globally. The false ingestion of MPs causes harmful effects on organisms, resulting in a decline in biodiversity. The present review comprehended the current knowledge of MP contamination in Crustacea and Mollusca from 75 peer-reviewed articles published in Asia between 2015 and 2023. A total of 79 species (27 Crustacea and 52 Mollusca) have been recorded to be contaminated with MPs. Out of the total 27 species of Crustacea, Metopograpsus quadridentatus (327.56 MPs/individual) and Balanus albicostatus (0.42 MPs/individual) showed the highest and lowest contamination, respectively. Out of the total 52 species of Mollusca, Dolabella auricularia (2325 MPs/individual) and Crassostrea gigas and Mytilus edulis (0.2 MPs/individual) showed the highest and lowest contamination, respectively. In terms of country-wise MP contamination, China has the highest number of contaminated species in both phylums among Asia. Findings of pollution indices revealed a very high risk of MP contamination in all the countries. Fiber was reported predominantly in both groups. Blue and black-colored MPs having <500 μm and <500 μm-1mm size were found dominantly in Crustacea and Mollusca, respectively. Polypropylene was recorded as the dominant plastic polymer in both Crustacea and Mollusca. In essence, this review has provided a comprehensive insight into MP concentration in Crustacea and Mollusca of Asia, highlighting variations among species and geographic locations. This understanding is crucial for tackling urgent environmental challenges, safeguarding human health, and promoting global sustainability initiatives amid the escalating issue of plastic pollution. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Microplastic pollution has created havoc on biodiversity and food safety. A total of 27 and 52 species of crustaceans and Mollusca have been recorded to be contaminated with MPs. Metopograpsus quadridentate and Dolabella auricularia have shown higher MPs contamination. Polypropylene was recorded as the dominant plastic polymer in both crustacean and Mollusca. Findings of pollution indices revealed a very high risk of MP contamination in all the countries.

Biodiversity management challenges: A policy brief

Global biodiversity has been lost at an alarming rate in the past century leading to what is often described as ‘the sixth mass extinction'. Leading causes of this loss are chemical pollution, habitat loss, unsustainable use of resources, invasive species, and climate change. Such environmental change can alter ecosystem functions irreversibly, leading to a direct loss of ecosystem services, such as food provision, climate regulation, and cultural services, which are estimated to have a global value of tens of trillions of dollars. International governing bodies have repeatedly set targets to preserve biodiversity and ecosystem services, especially within the framework of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Despite nation states’ pledges at the Rio Summit in 1992 to conserve biological diversity, progress has been lamentable. One reason for such failure is that action to redress biodiversity loss depends on national governments but it is of relatively low concern on the public agenda. This article reviews the UK and EU legal and policy biodiversity frameworks and exposes some of the complexities surrounding biodiversity loss, including non-compliance, public awareness, and valuation. Following a multidisciplinary roundtable on biodiversity in 2023, we suggest policy recommendations to overcome these issues.

An actor-centered, scalable land system typology for addressing biodiversity loss in the world’s tropical dry woodlands

Land use is a key driver of the ongoing biodiversity crisis and therefore also a major opportunity for its mitigation. However, appropriately considering the diversity of land-use actors and activities in conservation assessments and planning is challenging. As a result, top-down conservation policy and planning are often criticized for a lack of contextual nuance widely acknowledged to be required for effective and just conservation action. To address these challenges, we have developed a conceptually consistent, scalable land system typology and demonstrated its usefulness for the world's tropical dry woodlands. Our typology identifies key land-use actors and activities that represent typical threats to biodiversity and opportunities for conservation action. We identified land systems in a hierarchical way, with a global level allowing for broad-scale planning and comparative work. Nested within it, a regionalized level provides social-ecological specificity and context. We showcase this regionalization for five hotspots of land-use change and biodiversity loss in dry woodlands in Argentina, Bolivia, Mozambique, India, and Cambodia. Unlike other approaches to present land use, our typology accounts for the complexity of overlapping land uses. This allows, for example, assessment of how conservation measures conflict with other land uses, understanding of the social-ecological co-benefits and trade-offs of area-based conservation, mapping of threats, or targeting area-based and actor-based conservation measures. Moreover, our framework enables cross-regional learning by revealing both commonalities and social-ecological differences, as we demonstrate here for the world's tropical dry woodlands. By bridging the gap between global, top-down, and regional, bottom-up initiatives, our framework enables more contextually appropriate sustainability planning across scales and more targeted and social-ecologically nuanced interventions.

Identifying archived insect bulk samples using DNA metabarcoding: A case study using the long‐term Rothamsted Insect Survey

AbstractInsect populations are declining in many parts of the world, but a lack of long‐term monitoring data is impeding our ability to understand and mitigate the causes of insect biodiversity loss. Whilst high‐throughput sequencing (HTS) approaches, such as DNA metabarcoding, have the potential to revolutionize insect biomonitoring through rapid scalable identification, it is unclear to what extent HTS can be applied to long‐term stored insect samples. Archived insect samples could inform forecasting and provide valuable information regarding past changes to biodiversity. Here, we assess the efficacy of DNA metabarcoding to identify archived samples from the longest passive monitoring scheme in the United Kingdom: the Rothamsted Insect Survey (RIS). With a focus on aphids as the target taxa of a national network of suction‐traps, we analyze a 16‐year time‐series of stored samples (2003–2018) using DNA metabarcoding from one of the RIS suction traps as an exemplar. We achieved this by using a non‐destructive DNA extraction protocol, ensuring the integrity of archival samples for further studies. We compared the identities of aphids determined by both metabarcoding (as inferred amplicon sequence variants [ASVs]) and morphological identification and found that metabarcoding detected most genera with varying success (mean &gt; 76%). When comparing the two methods objectively (i.e., including taxa not detected morphologically), however, congruence decreased (51%). We show that minimum sequence copy thresholds can minimize metabarcoding false positives, but at the expense of introducing false negatives, highlighting the need for careful data curation. Detectability of taxa identified morphologically and similarity between the two methods did not significantly vary over time, demonstrating the viability of metabarcoding for screening archival samples. We discuss the advantages and challenges of metabarcoding for insect biomonitoring, particularly from archival samples, including improvements to sample handling, processing, and archiving. We highlight the wider potential of HTS approaches for stored samples from insect monitoring schemes, unlocking the immense potential of global historical time series.

Century-long recovery of mycorrhizal interactions in European beech forests after mining

Abstract Background and aims Ecological restoration strategies are emerging globally to counteract biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation. However, restored ecosystems may not reach undisturbed biodiversity and functionality. One reason of this limited success may be a focus on short-term recovery of diversity, composition, or isolated functions. These simplified metrics may underestimate the real time ecosystems need to recover. Thus, studies of more complex metrics, like biotic interactions, at larger timescales, are essential to understand ecosystem recovery. Methods Using molecular identification, we assessed the recovery of the interactions between ectomycorrhizal (EcM) fungi and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in two opencast iron mines in use since the fourteenth century and abandoned over 107 and 148 years. Results Species richness, species diversity, Basidiomycota/Ascomycota abundance ratio and taxonomic distinctness of EcM fungi recovered to undisturbed values, whereas species composition was still different. Certain fungal functional traits (i.e. exploration and sporocarp types) also reached undisturbed values. Differences in soil pH and NH4+ affected the composition of the EcM communities associated with beech, suggesting that mining caused a long-term impact in soil biogeochemistry, that directly impacted beech-EcM interactions. Conclusion Mycorrhizal interactions require more than 150 years to recover following mining. Contrary to the rapid recovery response provided by simple metrics like species richness, recovery metrics with more ecological information, like the identity of plant-EcM interactions, may be still capturing signals of incomplete recovery.

Petroleum Exploration in the Niger Delta Region and Implications for the Environment: A Review

Petroleum exploration and production in the Niger Delta, Nigeria, has been a significant source of revenue and foreign exchange for the country. Nevertheless, this industry has also been blamed for serious environmental pollution in the region. This review aims to shed light on the implications of petroleum exploration in the Niger Delta region and the resultant environmental damage it has caused. One of the most severe consequences of petroleum exploration in the Niger Delta is the frequent occurrence of oil spills. Due to aging infrastructure, poor maintenance, and criminal activities such as oil theft, pipeline spills have become a recurrent problem. Oil spills lead to the destruction of farmland, loss of biodiversity, poisoning of water sources, and widespread contamination of ecosystems. Petroleum exploration and production activities release substantial pollutants into the atmosphere, posing a significant threat to both human health and the environment. The burning of natural gas during oil production, also known as flaring, is particularly prevalent in the Niger Delta. This practice results in the emission of toxic gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and sulfur dioxide, contributing to climate change, respiratory diseases, and acid rain. Petroleum exploration in the Niger Delta has led to significant damage to forests and mangrove ecosystems. The destruction of these vital habitats has serious implications for species survival. Oil exploration activities often release harmful chemicals and wastes into the region's water bodies. These pollutants infiltrate the groundwater and surface water, leading to contamination that poses severe risks to human health and aquatic life. Contaminated water supplies have been linked to increased instances of skin diseases, as well as liver and kidney problems among the local population. The negative environmental implications of petroleum exploration in the Niger Delta also have severe socioeconomic consequences. Displaced fishermen and farmers face declining livelihoods, while sporadic employment opportunities generated by the oil industry do not compensate for the long-term damage inflicted on the region.

Sabango charcoal: A basis for a proposed community extension program

Numerous negative environmental impacts result from deforestation brought by the production of charcoal can be seen on news, and experienced by certain communities. Due to the high demand for traditional charcoal made from wood, there is also a high demand for cutting trees resulting in soil erosion, biodiversity loss, and modifications to regional climatic patterns are all consequences of deforestation. The researchers conducted the study to propose a solution to these problems by promoting sabango charcoal made from organic waste, such as dried mango leaves and saba banana peels. The researchers aimed to assess the acceptability level of sabango charcoal compared to traditional charcoal and used as a basis for a community extension program. Based on the analysis of statistical data, it showed that there is a significant difference between sabango charcoal and traditional charcoal in terms of smoke, ignition, and longevity. The gap between sabango charcoal and traditional charcoal can be determine to the smoke it produces, the time it takes to ignite, and the burning time. It can also be reused multiple times and offers a more environmentally friendly product.

Strategies for Sustainable Management of Mineral Resources for Koreaʼs Major Battery Producers (LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI, SK On)

The proliferation of global regulations concerning sustainability and environmental protection poses a significant challenge to maintaining corporate sustainability. Consequently, companies must strategically respond to navigate these regulations in their management plans. The objective of this research was to analyze how Korean companies(LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI, SK On) are responding to sustainable mining and procurement and how they adopt environmentally friendly practices in their mineral supply chain for battery manufacturing. We also proposed new actions to enhance their management strategies for sustainable mineral resource management. Our observations indicated that companies should implement a long-term performance measurement throughout their mineral supply chain. Additionally, there is an urgent need to develop a more proactive environmental management plan when evaluating suppliers from mineral extraction to utilization, adhering to global guidelines such as OECD regulation. In addition to the widely adopted monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions, priority assessments must be undertaken concerning soil and water pollution, waste management, and biodiversity loss within the supply chain linked with climate change under the nature-positive concept. We recommended the establishment of a recycling system for battery waste(i.e., minerals), which is essential for a resilient battery supply chain.

Tinkering While the Arctic Marine Environment Totters: Governance and the Triple Polar Crisis$

After describing how the marine environment is tottering in the face of the triple environmental crisis, this article explores the limited governance progressions at the global and regional levels in addressing the threats of pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss in the especially vulnerable Arctic. For pollution, key limitations include slow and arduous processes to add chemicals for control under the Stockholm and Rotterdam Conventions and reliance at the regional level on a fragmented array of pollution studies and projects but without specific region-wide legally binding pollution standards. For climate change, the world is not on track to meet the Paris Agreement’s temperature targets which is especially problematic for the Arctic cryosphere while the Arctic Council has largely been limited to providing general statements of concern and aspirational calls for enhanced climate mitigation and adaptation actions. For marine biodiversity losses, a pan-Arctic network of marine protected areas has yet to be developed and various implementation challenges surround the Agreement to Prevent Unregulated High Seas Fisheries in the Central Arctic Ocean including the need to ensure adequate financial, human resource and technical support. The paper concludes by highlighting some promising future governance directions. They include: the conclusion of a global treaty on plastic pollution; implementation of a new Global Framework on Chemicals –For a Planet Free of Harm from Chemicals and Waste; expected further clarifications from international tribunals on State responsibilities to address climate change; and regional implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the new agreement under the UN Convention on Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction.

Sustainable Development versus Extractivist Deforestation in Tropical, Subtropical, and Boreal Forest Ecosystems: Repercussions and Controversies about the Mother Tree and the Mycorrhizal Network Hypothesis

This research reviews the phenomenon of extractive deforestation as a possible trigger for cascade reactions that could affect part of the forest ecosystem and its biodiversity (surface, aerial, and underground) in tropical, subtropical, and boreal forests. The controversy and disparities in criteria generated in the international scientific community around the hypothesis of a possible link between “mother trees” and mycorrhizal networks in coopetition for nutrients, nitrogen, and carbon are analyzed. The objective is to promote awareness to generate more scientific knowledge about the eventual impacts of forest extraction. Public policies are emphasized as crucial mediators for balanced sustainable development. Currently, the effects of extractive deforestation on forest ecosystems are poorly understood, which requires caution and forest protection. Continued research to increase our knowledge in molecular biology is advocated to understand the adaptation of biological organisms to the new conditions of the ecosystem both in the face of extractive deforestation and reforestation. The environmental impacts of extractive deforestation, such as the loss of biodiversity, soil degradation, altered water cycles, and the contribution of climate change, remain largely unknown. Long-term and high-quality research is essential to ensure forest sustainability and the preservation of biodiversity for future generations.

Audio tagging of avian dawn chorus recordings in California, Oregon and Washington

Declines in biodiversity and ecosystem health due to climate change are raising urgent concerns. In response, large-scale multispecies monitoring programmes are being implemented that increasingly adopt sensor-based approaches such as acoustic recording. These approaches rely heavily on ecological data science. However, developing reliable algorithms for processing sensor-based data relies heavily on labelled datasets of sufficient quality and quantity. We present a dataset of 1,575 dawn chorus soundscape recordings, 141 being fully annotated (n = 32,994 annotations) with avian, mammalian and amphibian vocalisations. The remaining recordings were included to facilitate novel research applications. These recordings are paired with 48 site-level climatic, forest structure and topographic covariates. This dataset provides a valuable resource to researchers developing acoustic classification algorithms or studying biodiversity and wildlife behaviour and its relationship to environmental gradients. The dawn chorus recordings were collected as part of a long-term Northern Spotted Owl monitoring program; this demonstrates the complementary value of harnessing existing monitoring efforts to strengthen biodiversity sampling. This dataset of dawn chorus soundscape recordings is one of the few open-access acoustic datasets annotated with non-biotic and both interspecific (across species) and intraspecific (within species) bird, mammal and amphibian sonotypes and the first that is paired with climatic, forest structure and topographical covariates extracted at recorder locations. This makes it a valuable resource for researchers studying the dawn chorus and its relationship to the environment.