Frog population levels are a key indicator of an area’s ecological health, and one of the best ways of gauging those levels involves estimating the number of frog vocalizations that are being made at one time.
Typically, biologists have to wait around at frog habitats, monitoring the amphibians’ croaking up close and in person. Not only is this a hassle logistically-speaking, but the scientists’ presence may also frighten the frogs, causing them to remain quieter than usual. That’s where the FrogPhone comes in.
Developed with the purpose of making ecological research more accurate and less invasive, FrogPhone is an acoustic surveillance device that allows scientists to access remote survey sites and record frog calls from up to 150 meters away.
Researchers start by simply phoning up the FrogPhone, from the comfort of their lab. The ‘phone’ then sends them a text message, indicating the current water and air temperatures while also allowing them to actually listen to the area’s frog calls in real-time – helping them to monitor the area’s ecological health with more frequency and ease.
