Static acoustic monitoring (SAM) is a useful method for monitoring acoustically active species such as harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena), which produce narrow-band high-frequency (NBHF) echolocation clicks. However, differences in sensitivity and detection ranges among acoustic devices may affect data interpretation and comparability across studies. This study estimated detection ranges of three acoustic devices (C-PODs, F-PODs, and SoundTraps) using simultaneous deployments and land-based theodolite tracking of harbour porpoises. Two moorings, each equipped with the three device types, were deployed within view of an observation station. Distances between tracked porpoises and acoustic moorings were calculated, and synchronised acoustic detections were analysed. Generalised Additive Models (GAMs) were used to assess the effect of distance from the data logger on detection probability and estimate the effective detection radius (EDR) for each device. Detection probability decreased with increasing distance from the datalogger. Unexpectedly higher detection ranges were observed at the outer mooring, likely due to observer bias. For the inner mooring, the highest EDR was obtained for the F-POD (250 m), followed by the SoundTrap (208 m) and the C-POD (193 m). These findings highlight the importance of considering device type, recording parameters, and deployment location when designing long-term acoustic monitoring programmes and comparing studies.
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