Noise Pollution Changes Avian Communities and Species Interactions (original) (raw)
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Toward a broader characterization of anthropogenic noise and its effects on wildlife
Behavioral Ecology, 2014
Understanding how organisms respond to any environment requires a full characterization of how the environment varies over time and space. A rapidly growing literature on the influence of anthropogenic noise on wildlife, and in particular animal communication, has yet to fully describe this variation. Point measurements of amplitude, often separated in time and space from animal observations, and qualitative descriptions of noise inadequately capture variation, a bias that may limit deeper understanding of noise effects on wildlife. We suggest that a greater focus on temporal and spatial heterogeneity in noise amplitude, as well as additional properties of noise, including onset, consistency, regularity, and frequency range, is critical for continued advancement in this emerging field. Recordings of noise using calibrated systems allow researchers to measure a suite of noise properties simultaneously with animal observations. Not only will such an approach improve quantification of single metrics of noise, the noise data collected may then be analyzed in a multivariate framework, which will help us understand the full range of behavioral and physiological adjustments animals may make and their broader implications for wildlife health and conservation.
Characterizing anthropogenic noise to improve understanding and management of impacts to wildlife
ABSTRACT: Diverse biological consequences of noise exposure are documented by an extensive literature. Unfortunately, the aggregate value of this literature is compromised by inconsistencies in noise measurements and incomplete descriptions of metrics. These studies commonly report the noise level (in decibels, dB) at which a response was measured. There are many methods to characterize noise levels in dB, which can result in different values depending on the processing steps used. It is crucial that methods used for noise level measurement be reported in sufficient detail to permit replication and maximize interpretation of results, enable comparisons across studies, and provide rigorous foundations for noise management in environmental conservation. Understanding the differences in the acoustic measurements is vital when making decisions about acceptable levels or thresholds for conservation strategies, particularly for endangered species where mistakes can have irreversible consequences. Here we provide a discussion on how different acoustic metrics are derived and recommendations on how to report sound level measurements. Examples of additional measures of noise besides level (e.g. spectral composition, duration) are discussed in the context of providing further insight on the consequences of noise and will potentially help develop effective mitigation. It will never be possible to study all combinations of sources and species. Standardized methods of noise measurement and reporting are necessary to advance syntheses and general models that predict the ecological consequences of noise.
Noise Pollution Filters Bird Communities Based on Vocal Frequency
PLoS ONE, 2011
Background: Human-generated noise pollution now permeates natural habitats worldwide, presenting evolutionarily novel acoustic conditions unprecedented to most landscapes. These acoustics not only harm humans, but threaten wildlife, and especially birds, via changes to species densities, foraging behavior, reproductive success, and predator-prey interactions. Explanations for negative effects of noise on birds include disruption of acoustic communication through energetic masking, potentially forcing species that rely upon acoustic communication to abandon otherwise suitable areas. However, this hypothesis has not been adequately tested because confounding stimuli often co-vary with noise and are difficult to separate from noise exposure.
A synthesis of two decades of research documenting the effects of noise on wildlife
Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, 2015
Global increases in environmental noise levels - arising from expansion of human populations, transportation networks, and resource extraction - have catalysed a recent surge of research into the effects of noise on wildlife. Synthesising a coherent understanding of the biological consequences of noise from this literature is challenging. Taxonomic groups vary in auditory capabilities. A wide range of noise sources and exposure levels occur, and many kinds of biological responses have been observed, ranging from individual behaviours to changes in ecological communities. Also, noise is one of several environmental effects generated by human activities, so researchers must contend with potentially confounding explanations for biological responses. Nonetheless, it is clear that noise presents diverse threats to species and ecosystems and salient patterns are emerging to help inform future natural resource-management decisions. We conducted a systematic and standardised review of the s...
Acoustics 2023 - Institute of Acoustics, 2023
The Habitats project integrates research in the fields of ecological impacts and environmental noise to facilitate development of management tools and processes needed for sustainable development. This conference paper summarises the content and outcomes of a workshop at the University of Salford on 15th December 2022, focused on the development of a UK network on anthropogenic noise impact assessment in wildlife. Topics covered included biodiversity assessment using acoustic techniques, behavioural changes in different systems, industrial and consultancy best practices, and the formation of a network for support and funding for subsequent workshops and projects. Participants discussed the difficulty of methods standardisation, the importance of characterising anthropogenic noise exposure of wildlife, and the potential use and improvement of sensors and robotics in producing reliable datasets. The workshop identified topics for further discussion, including the repeatability and reproducibility of research on noise impact assessment in wildlife, linking stressors to end points, and the potential to use evolutionary changes in anatomy to predict species differences in hearing. The summary perspectives from industry, academia and government provided an important step in defining the knowledge gap between the state-of-the-art and societal need. Overall, the workshop concluded that the creation of an international, collaborative, multidisciplinary network of experts is a key step in developing a comprehensive framework for assessing
A Systematic Review of Anthropogenic Noise Impact on Avian Species
Current Pollution Reports, 2024
Purpose of review This study aims to investigate anthropogenic noise impact on avian species by means of a systematic review of literature. Recent findings Based on previous anthropogenic noise impact frameworks, it was possible to: clarify the impacts of noise on birds; optimise the existing frameworks with findings produced over 44 years; recategorise noise impacts into more appropriate categories, indicating which are the positive and negatives, as well as acute and chronic impacts caused by anthropogenic noise; provide a significant cluster model of anthropogenic noise impacts on avian species subdivided into impacts on 'Behaviour' and 'Communication/Perception' (Cluster 1) and 'Physiology' (Cluster 2); and show how avian hearing frequency range overlaps noise source frequency range. Summary This research adopted the database of Peacock et al. [1, 2] regarding avian species due to its vast coverage across taxa. A systematic literature review of 50 peer-reviewed papers about anthropogenic noise impact on birds was undertaken. A Two-Step Cluster analysis was calculated, showing the data subdivided into two clusters. Cluster 1 (76.9%) showed behavioural responses mainly composed of negative and auditory perception and communication impacts, presenting positive or negative noise impacts. Cluster 2 (23.1%) mainly showed negative impacts on physiological outcomes caused by traffic, anthropogenic, and background noise.
Anthropogenic Noise and Conservation
Animal Signals and Communication, 2013
Anthropogenic noise is a common but evolutionarily recent influence on communicating animals and evidence is accumulating of its adverse impacts on human health, therefore it has potential relevance to conservation. However, demonstrating that this potential is realised is not straightforward. A particular issue is the difficulty of assessing likely impacts from the limited evidence on the main factors influencing impacts-from the hearing abilities of animals of conservation concern through to the characteristics of emitted sound fields in natural environments. Further issues include the likely underestimation of behavioural effects, and a lack of knowledge of how animals trade off costs and benefits. In this chapter, we aim to highlight the main themes emerging from the growing interest in the effects of anthropogenic noise on conservation. We predominantly consider the marine environment (with examples drawn mainly from marine mammals) and the terrestrial environment (with bird examples). An important consideration that emerges from the increasing levels of anthropogenic noise and difficulties in assessing specific impacts is the need to develop interim guidance, while more detailed information is gathered and assessed.
IMPACTS OF ANTHROPOGENIC SOUNDS ON BIRD CALL ACTIVITIES: A CASE STUDY IN AACHEN, GERMANY
10th Convention of the European Acoustics Association - Forum Acusticum 2023, 2023
Since the definition of the Environmental Noise Directive 2002/49/EC, various tools, reports, and action plans have been developed to assess and improve the sonic environment according to human perception and wellbeing. Few methodologies and reports consider the measurement of the impacts of anthropogenic sounds on wildlife at a European level. Noise pollution can impact communication, species richness, reproductive success, population size and distribution of wildlife. This study aims to analyse the impacts of anthropogenic sounds on birds in three parks and one public garden with different sizes and functionalities in Aachen, Germany. The data collection happened between 2015 and 2016 through soundwalks and sampled 192 omnidirectional recordings. The analyses of impacts consider: 1) acoustic, bioacoustic and psychoacoustic characterisation of the sonic environments; 2) birds call detection and characterisation using BirdNET, type of vocalisation and richness estimations at each location; 3) dominance of anthropogenic sounds in the sampled recordings; 4) assessment of the sound thresholds for humans, as well as the quality of the Quietness Suitability Index (QSI) for quiet areas (EEA, 2014), are considered. The results show an attempt to assess anthropogenic noise impacts on urban wildlife, aiming for a healthy urban sonic environment for humans and wildlife.
2015 impact of noise Biol Cons.pdf
The sound produced by human-made machinery (technophony) is known to exert negative effects on animal communication and well-being. Mining is an important economic activity in Brazil, which is often conducted close to forested areas and produces a diffuse noise. In this study, the impact of such noise on biophony (biological sounds) was investigated by characterizing and comparing the soundscapes of two different sites (close versus distant from an open-cast mine) in the same Atlantic forest fragment, matched for habitat type, in Southeast Brazil. Six automated recorders were installed at each site and were programmed to record continuously during seven consecutive days every two months between October 2012 and August 2013. Technophony and biophony values were derived from power spectra and the Acoustic Complexity Index (ACI). Mann-Whitney U tests demonstrated that the biophony exhibited a switch in daily dynamics, resulting in a statistically higher biophony during the day at the site close to the mine and a higher biophony during the night at the site far from the mine. Potential species richness was found to be higher at the site that was distant from the mine. The species composition and spectral characteristics of the calls were also found to differ between the two sites. These results provide the first investigation of potential disturbances caused by mining noise on biophony, demonstrating that it can cause alterations in the temporal dynamics and daily patterns of animal sounds, which are symptoms of altered behaviors or variations in community-species composition. These findings suggest remarkable insights that should be taken into consideration in the regulating of the use of natural areas for mining.