LAMLA V • Listening for Aquatic Mammals in Latin America

Introduction

LAMLA (Listening for Aquatic Mammals in Latin America) is an international scientific workshop dedicated to the study of aquatic mammals using bioacoustics and passive acoustic monitoring (PAM).

The initiative began in 2016 in Natal, Brazil, led by Dr. Renata Sousa-Lima, in response to the lack of regional coordination spaces focused on aquatic mammal bioacoustics. Since then, LAMLA has become the main regional forum dedicated exclusively to this topic in Latin America.

Aquatic mammal bioacoustics is a rapidly growing field worldwide. In Latin America, it is particularly relevant because the region hosts more than half of the known aquatic mammal species, many of which are threatened or still poorly understood in terms of their ecology and distribution.

Previous LAMLA meetings have gathered on average around 50 participants from more than ten countries, including senior researchers, graduate students, and environmental professionals. Each meeting combined plenary lectures by internationally recognized specialists—such as Dr. Christopher Clark, Dr. Jay Barlow and Dr. Christine Erbe—with oral presentations, poster sessions, and technical workshops focused on acoustic signal analysis and passive acoustic monitoring.

The fifth edition of the meeting, LAMLA V, will take place in Mar del Plata (Argentina) in November 2026, within the framework of the XX Congreso Argentino de Acústica (AdAA2026). This setting will promote interdisciplinary exchange with specialists in environmental acoustics, acoustic engineering, and signal processing.

General objective

To bring together researchers, professionals, and students from Latin America working on aquatic mammal bioacoustics in order to exchange experiences, methodologies, and research results, foster regional collaborations, and strengthen the development of this field of research in the region.

Specific objectives of LAMLA V

For this edition of the workshop, the following objectives are proposed:

• Update the current state of knowledge on aquatic mammal bioacoustics in Latin America.
• Strengthen the regional network of researchers using passive acoustic monitoring to study and conserve aquatic mammals.
• Promote the exchange of methodologies and analytical tools, including detection techniques, automatic classification, and marine soundscape analysis.
• Foster new regional collaborations and joint projects, particularly between emerging groups and established laboratories.
• Support the training of students and early-career researchers by providing opportunities to present results and engage in scientific discussion.
• Discuss the role of acoustic monitoring in conservation, including the assessment of anthropogenic noise impacts in the marine environment.
• Support the participation of students and early-career researchers through a travel grant program designed to facilitate their attendance at the workshop.

Workshop format

The workshop will last three days and will include:

• Plenary lectures by invited specialists.
• Oral presentations of recent research.
• Poster sessions.
• Technical training workshops.
• Thematic discussion sessions.
• A final session devoted to conclusions and future perspectives.

Presentations may be delivered in Spanish, Portuguese, or English, encouraging participation from the entire regional scientific community.

In addition, a public outreach lecture will be organized to introduce marine bioacoustics and the conservation of aquatic mammals to the local community.

Scientific themes

Topics addressed during the workshop will include:

• Marine mammal bioacoustics.
• Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM).
• Detection and classification of acoustic signals.
• Acoustic behaviour.
• Acoustic-based abundance estimation.
• Marine soundscape studies.
• Anthropogenic noise in the ocean.
• Conservation applications of bioacoustics.

Abstract selection

The call for contributions will be open to the scientific and professional community of the region.

Each submitted abstract will be evaluated by members of the Scientific Committee, composed of researchers from different Latin American countries with experience in aquatic mammal research.

The review process will be anonymous and will consider:

• Clarity of objectives.
• Methodological soundness.
• Scientific relevance.
• Contribution to regional knowledge.

Accepted contributions will be presented as oral presentations or posters and will be included in a digital book of abstracts published on the official LAMLA website.

Travel grants

To promote the participation of students and early-career researchers from Latin America, LAMLA V will offer a travel grant program.

These grants will be primarily aimed at graduate students and early-career researchers, with priority given to applicants presenting their work at the workshop.

Travel grants may partially or fully support:

• Registration fees.
• Travel expenses.
• Accommodation during the event.

Grants will be awarded through a competitive process based on:

• Quality of the submitted abstract.
• Relevance of the research topic to the workshop themes.
• Academic background of the applicant.
• Geographic representation within the region.

The travel grant program will be supported by institutional partners and event sponsors, with the goal of facilitating diverse and inclusive participation from across the Latin American scientific community.

Organizing Committee