Acoustic Complexity Index (ACI)

AUS-ASP-AGR-ACI General Low confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Thresholds: Lower: 0, Upper: —
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: CompositeFramework

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is CompositeFramework, but the benchmark data may be missing required fields (e.g., optimal range bounds for an OptimalRange benchmark). This is typically a data quality issue in the benchmark pipeline.

Evidence & Context

Reference Value: No numerical benchmark available. The reference condition is defined as an ACI value significantly and consistently higher than that of a degraded or conventionally managed cropping site, while remaining lower than that of a benchmark conservation reserve within the same biome.

Metric Definition:

The Acoustic Complexity Index (ACI) is a quantitative metric developed within the field of ecoacoustics to characterize soundscapes, focusing on biological sounds (biophony) variability over time and frequency.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark conceptually defines the Acoustic Complexity Index (ACI) for sustainable agricultural cropping in the Arid Shrublands & Stony Plains biome as an intermediate acoustic complexity level between degraded cropping sites and high-health conservation reserves, reflecting a dynamic and complex soundscape indicative of ecosystem health.

Justification:

The benchmark is provisional due to the absence of direct published data for agricultural cropping in the biome and the known sensitivity of ACI to calculation parameters.

Sources (1)

Preview of Australian Acoustic Observatory | A2O – Australian Acoustic ..., accessed July 18, 2025
Australian Acoustic Observatory | A2O – Australian Acoustic ..., accessed July 18, 2025 GreyLiterature

Data – Australian Acoustic Observatory | A2O

View Source

Supporting Sources (24)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Guidelines for the use of acoustic indices in environmental research - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025
(PDF) Guidelines for the use of acoustic indices in environmental research - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025
Methodology Source Journal

(PDF) Guidelines for the use of acoustic indices in environmental research - ResearchGate, accessed August 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of A Bibliometric Analysis on Land Degradation: Current Status, Development, and Future Directions - MDPI, accessed August 28, 2025
A Bibliometric Analysis on Land Degradation: Current Status, Development, and Future Directions - MDPI, accessed August 28, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

1 OVERVIEW ARTICLE Degraded or just dusty? Examining ecological change in arid lands J.L. SilcockA,B,D & R.J. FenshamA,C A C, accessed August 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of Assessing the Avian Soundscapes Using Acoustic Indices and How They Relate to Arthropod Damage in Collard Green Fields - WUR eDepot, accessed July 22, 2025,
Assessing the Avian Soundscapes Using Acoustic Indices and How They Relate to Arthropod Damage in Collard Green Fields - WUR eDepot, accessed July 22, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Assessing the Avian Soundscapes Using Acoustic Indices and How They Relate to Arthropod Damage in Collard Green Fields - WUR eDepot, accessed August 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of Australian Acoustic Observatory (A2O) data portal - Research Data Australia, accessed August 28, 2025
Australian Acoustic Observatory (A2O) data portal - Research Data Australia, accessed August 28, 2025
Contextual Support

Australian Acoustic Observatory (A2O) data portal - Research Data Australia, accessed August 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of Australian Acoustic Observatory (A2O) data portal - Research Data Australia, accessed July 22, 2025,
Australian Acoustic Observatory (A2O) data portal - Research Data Australia, accessed July 22, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Deserts and xeric shrublands – Australian Acoustic Observatory | A2O, accessed August 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of Australian Collaborative Rangelands Information System (ACRIS) - DCCEEW
Australian Collaborative Rangelands Information System (ACRIS) - DCCEEW
Contextual Support Government

Introduction - Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, accessed August 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of Bioacoustics and AI help scientists listen in on elusive Australian cockatoos, accessed July 22, 2025,
Bioacoustics and AI help scientists listen in on elusive Australian cockatoos, accessed July 22, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Do acoustically detectable species reflect overall diversity? A case study from Australia's arid zone, accessed August 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of Bon Bon Station (2) - Australian Acoustic Observatory, accessed August 28, 2025
Bon Bon Station (2) - Australian Acoustic Observatory, accessed August 28, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Bon Bon Station (2) - Australian Acoustic Observatory, accessed August 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of Deserts and xeric shrublands – Australian Acoustic Observatory | A2O, accessed July 22, 2025,
Deserts and xeric shrublands – Australian Acoustic Observatory | A2O, accessed July 22, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Fowlers Gap (24) - Australian Acoustic Observatory, accessed August 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of Ecosystem Processes – Environmental Data Collection Methods - TERN Australia
Ecosystem Processes – Environmental Data Collection Methods - TERN Australia
Contextual Support Government

TERN Surveillance monitoring program: Soil vis-NIR spectral library with accompanying soil measurement data for 367 specimens - CSIRO Data Access Portal, accessed July 17, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Examining the value of the Acoustic Variability Index in the characterisation of Australian marine soundscapes
Examining the value of the Acoustic Variability Index in the characterisation of Australian marine soundscapes
Contextual Support Journal

Acoustic indices as proxies for biodiversity: a meta‐analysis - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed August 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of Fowlers Gap Research Station - UNSW Sydney, accessed August 28, 2025
Fowlers Gap Research Station - UNSW Sydney, accessed August 28, 2025
Contextual Support Government

FOWLERS GAP FIELD STATION - UNSW, accessed August 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of Full article: The relationship between the Acoustic Complexity Index and avian species richness and diversity: a review - Taylor & Francis Online, accessed July 22, 2025,
Full article: The relationship between the Acoustic Complexity Index and avian species richness and diversity: a review - Taylor & Francis Online, accessed July 22, 2025,
Contextual Support

The relationship between the Acoustic Complexity Index and avian species richness and diversity: a review - Taylor & Francis Online, accessed August 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of Global Application of Regenerative Agriculture: A Review of Definitions and Assessment Approaches - MDPI, accessed July 28, 2025,
Global Application of Regenerative Agriculture: A Review of Definitions and Assessment Approaches - MDPI, accessed July 28, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Global Application of Regenerative Agriculture: A Review of Definitions and Assessment Approaches - MDPI

View Source
Preview of Impact of acoustic index parameters on soundscape comparisons - espace - Curtin's institutional repository, accessed August 28, 2025
Impact of acoustic index parameters on soundscape comparisons - espace - Curtin's institutional repository, accessed August 28, 2025
Irrelevant

Impact of acoustic index parameters on soundscape comparisons - espace - Curtin's institutional repository, accessed August 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of Land-use intensity and landscape structure drive the acoustic composition of grasslands | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 28, 2025
Land-use intensity and landscape structure drive the acoustic composition of grasslands | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 28, 2025
Contextual Support

Land-use intensity and landscape structure drive the acoustic composition of grasslands | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of Management of grazing intensity in the semi-arid rangelands of Southern Australia: Effects on soil and biodiversity - Charles Sturt University Research Output, accessed August 28, 2025
Management of grazing intensity in the semi-arid rangelands of Southern Australia: Effects on soil and biodiversity - Charles Sturt University Research Output, accessed August 28, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) Assessing Landsat Fractional Ground-Cover Time Series across Australia's Arid Rangelands: Separating Grazing Impacts from Climate Variability - ResearchGate, accessed August 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed August 4, 2025,
NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed August 4, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

The impact of artificial watering points on rangeland biodiversity: A review - Ninti One, accessed August 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of The acoustic complexity index (ACI): theoretical foundations, applied perspectives and semantics - Ovid, accessed August 28, 2025
The acoustic complexity index (ACI): theoretical foundations, applied perspectives and semantics - Ovid, accessed August 28, 2025
Methodology Source Journal

The acoustic complexity index (ACI): theoretical foundations, applied perspectives and semantics - Ovid, accessed August 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of The acoustic complexity index (ACI): theoretical foundations, applied perspectives and semantics - ResearchGate
The acoustic complexity index (ACI): theoretical foundations, applied perspectives and semantics - ResearchGate
Contextual Support

Examining the value of the Acoustic Variability Index in the characterisation of Australian marine soundscapes, accessed August 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of The Australian Acoustic Observatory | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 28, 2025
The Australian Acoustic Observatory | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 28, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Key Issues for Realizing Open Ecoacoustic Monitoring in Australia - ResearchGate, accessed August 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of The Australian Acoustic Observatory, accessed August 28, 2025
The Australian Acoustic Observatory, accessed August 28, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

The Australian Acoustic Observatory, accessed August 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of The sound of management: Acoustic monitoring for agricultural industries | QUT ePrints, accessed August 28, 2025
The sound of management: Acoustic monitoring for agricultural industries | QUT ePrints, accessed August 28, 2025
Methodology Source Journal

The sound of management: Acoustic monitoring for agricultural industries | QUT ePrints, accessed August 28, 2025

View Source
Preview of The Use of Acoustic Indices to Determine Avian Species Richness in Audio-recordings of the - QUT ePrints, accessed August 6, 2025,
The Use of Acoustic Indices to Determine Avian Species Richness in Audio-recordings of the - QUT ePrints, accessed August 6, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

The Use of Acoustic Indices to Determine Avian Species Richness in Audio-recordings of the - QUT ePrints, accessed August 28, 2025

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Shrublands & Stony Plains
  • Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 22 Mar 2026

Notes

Lower Critical Threshold: 0 index. No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are generally better up to natural saturation. Temporal patterns of ACI are more informative than single mean values.