Dear colleagues, We are pleased to announce the following publication in the Methods of Ecology and Evolution entitled: Estimating effective detection area of static passive acoustic data loggers from playback experiments with cetacean vocalisations. https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/2041-210X.13097 Authors: Hanna K. Nuuttila Katharina Brundiers Michael Dähne Jens C. Koblitz Len Thomas Winnie Courtene‐Jones Peter G. H. Evans John R. Turner Jim D. Bennell Jan G. Hiddink Abstract Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) is used for many vocal species. However, few studies have quantified the fraction of vocalisations captured, and how animal distance and sound source level affect detection probability. Quantifying the detection probability or effective detection area (EDA) of a recorder is a prerequisite for designing and implementing monitoring studies, and essential for estimating absolute density and abundance from PAM data. We tested the detector performance of cetacean click loggers (C‐PODs) using artificial and recorded harbour porpoise clicks played at a range of distances and source levels. Detection rate of individual clicks and click sequences (or click trains) was calculated. A Generalised Additive Model (GAM) was used to create a detection function and estimate the effective detection radius (EDR) and EDA for both types of signals. Source level and distance from logger influenced the detection probability. Whilst differences between loggers were evident, detectability was influenced more by the deployment site than within‐logger variability. Maximum distance for detecting real recorded porpoise clicks was 566 m. Mean EDR for artificial signals with source level 176 dB re 1 μPa @ 1m was 187 m., and for a recorded vocalisation with source level up to 182 dB re 1 μPa was 188 m. For detections classified as harbour porpoise click sequences the mean EDR was 72 m. The analytical methods presented are a valid technique for estimating the EDA of any logger used in abundance estimates. We present a practical way to obtain data with a cetacean click logger, with the caveat that artificial playbacks cannot mimic real animal behaviour and are at best able to account for some of the variability in detections between sites, removing logger and propagation effects so that what remains is density and behavioural differences. If calibrated against real‐world EDAs (e.g., from tagged animals) it is possible to estimate site‐specific detection area and absolute density. We highlight the importance of accounting for both biological and environmental factors affecting vocalisations so that accurate estimates of detection area can be determined, and effective monitoring regimes implemented. This completes a set of publications on the performance on acoustic data loggers, C-PODs. For more information and access to the previous papers see https://www.swansea.ac.uk/staff/science/biosciences/h.k.nuuttila/name,168788... Sostres Alonso, M. & Nuuttila, H. (2014). Detection rates of wild harbour porpoises and bottlenose dolphins using static acoustic click loggers vary with depth. Bioacoustics, 1-10. https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa19380 doi:10.1080/09524622.2014.980319 Nuuttila, H., Thomas, L., Hiddink, J., Meier, R., Turner, J., Bennell, J., et. al. (2013). Acoustic detection probability of bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, with static acoustic dataloggers in Cardigan Bay, Wales. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 134(3), 2596 https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa19381 doi:10.1121/1.4816586 Nuuttila, H. (2013). Identifying Foraging Behaviour of Wild Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and Harbour Porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) with Static Acoustic Dataloggers. Aquatic Mammals 39(2), 147-161. https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa19382 doi:10.1578/AM.39.2.2013.147 Kind regards, Hanna <’((>< <’((>< <’((>< <’((>< <’((>< Dr. Hanna Nuuttila SEACAMS2 Scientific Officer Open ocean ecology, marine mammals & marine renewables College of Science, Wallace Building Swansea University, Singleton Park , Swansea, Wales Coleg Gwyddoniaeth, Adelaid Wallace Prifysgol Abertawe, Parc Singleton, Abertawe, Cymru