How and why environmental noise impacts animals: an integrative, mechanistic review

Kight, Caitlin R.; Swaddle, John P.

doi:10.1111/j.1461-0248.2011.01664.x

Cited by 481 publications

(356 citation statements)

References 87 publications

(194 reference statements)

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“…Anthropogenic noise can interfere with acoustic communication in four main ways which are not mutually exclusive: by masking information either completely or partially (Brumm and Slabbekoorn, 2005); by diverting an individual's finite attention away from detecting or responding to a signal (Chan and Blumstein, 2011); by inducing physiological stress that results in inappropriate responses (Kight and Swaddle, 2011); or by increasing perceived threat levels and thus indirectly affecting behaviour (Frid and Dill, 2002). The consequences of masking for signallers has received considerable research attention, with numerous studies showing that anthropogenic noise can lead to adjustments in the acoustic parameters of vocalisations via behavioural plasticity, ontogenetic changes or adaptation (Slabbekoorn and Ripmeester, 2008;Gross et al, 2010;Luther and Baptista, 2010;Roca et al, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anthropogenic noise alters dwarf mongoose responses to heterospecific alarm calls

Morris-Drake

Bracken

Kern

et al. 2017

Environmental Pollution

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General rightsThis document is made available in accordance with publisher policies. Please cite only the published version using the reference above. (0) 960028260, no fax number Statement of authorshipAll authors contributed to the conception and design of the study; AM and AB collected the data; AM and AB analysed the data with advice from JMK and ANR; ANR and AM wrote the first draft of the manuscript, and all authors contributed significantly to revisions. 2Anthropogenic noise is an evolutionarily novel and widespread pollutant in both terrestrial and aquatic habitats. Despite increasing evidence that the additional noise generated by human activities can affect vocal communication, the majority of research has focused on the use of conspecific acoustic information, especially sexual signals.Many animals are known to eavesdrop on the alarm calls produced by other species, enhancing their likelihood of avoiding predation, but how this use of heterospecific information is affected by anthropogenic noise has received little empirical attention.Here, we use two field-based playback experiments on a habituated wild population of dwarf mongooses (Helogale parvula) to determine how anthropogenic noise influences the response of foragers to heterospecific alarm calls. We begin by demonstrating that dwarf mongooses respond appropriately to the alarm calls of sympatric chacma baboons (Papio ursinus) and tree squirrels (Paraxerus cepapi); fleeing only to the latter.We then show that mongoose foragers are less likely to exhibit this flee response to tree squirrel alarm calls during road-noise playback compared to ambient-sound playback.One explanation for the change in response is that noise-induced distraction or stress result in maladaptive behaviour. However, further analysis revealed that road-noise playback results in increased vigilance and that mongooses showing the greatest vigilance increase are those that do not subsequently exhibit a flee response to the alarm call. These individuals may therefore be acting appropriately: if the greater gathering of personal information indicates the absence of an actual predator despite an alarm call, the need to undertake costly fleeing behaviour can be avoided. Either way, our study indicates the potential for anthropogenic noise to interfere with the use of acoustic information from other species, and suggests the importance of considering how heterospecific networks are affected by this global pollutant.Capsule: Anthropogenic noise reduces the likelihood of fleeing to a heterospecific alarm call.3

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anthropogenic noise alters dwarf mongoose responses to heterospecific alarm calls

Morris-Drake

Bracken

Kern

et al. 2017

Environmental Pollution

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“…Given the extent of the disturbance and the complexity of responses reported to noise, which range from the molecular to the community level, there remain many gaps in our understanding, especially field-based studies that explore the subject (Kight and Swaddle 2011). Consequently, it has become a target area for applied ecologists and conservationists who seek to better understand the environmental impact that results from widereaching noise stimuli, which differ, depending on production source, in their frequency, intensity, and timing (Francis and Barber 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anthropogenic noise weakens territorial response to intruder's songs

et al. 2016

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Abstract. Noise pollution degrades natural acoustic conditions, potentially interfering with bird communication. However, exactly how noise impacts the ability of the signal receiver to detect and discriminate vocalizations from conspecifics remains understudied in field settings. We performed a natural experiment to determine the effect of noise pollution on the territory-defense behaviors of two emberizid sparrows exposed to carefully constructed playbacks of conspecific intruder songs. Although all birds reacted to the playbacks, response latency increased with noise levels. This suggests that noise interferes with signal reception and may indicate impaired signal discrimination. We place these results in the context of a receiver's "listening area" and the significant impact of noise pollution on this receiver-centric perceptual acoustic range. This work informs conservation efforts and provides a much needed fieldbased examination of the disruptive impact of noise pollution on behaviors directly related to reproduction and fitness.

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“…There is now substantial evidence that anthropogenic noise has detrimental impacts on a variety of species (3,(7)(8)(9)(10). For example, work in natural gas extraction fields has demonstrated that compressor station noise alters songbird breeding distribution and species richness (11)(12)(13).…”

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A phantom road experiment reveals traffic noise is an invisible source of habitat degradation

Ware

McClure

Carlisle

et al. 2015

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Decades of research demonstrate that roads impact wildlife and suggest traffic noise as a primary cause of population declines near roads. We created a "phantom road" using an array of speakers to apply traffic noise to a roadless landscape, directly testing the effect of noise alone on an entire songbird community during autumn migration. Thirty-one percent of the bird community avoided the phantom road. For individuals that stayed despite the noise, overall body condition decreased by a full SD and some species showed a change in ability to gain body condition when exposed to traffic noise during migratory stopover. We conducted complementary laboratory experiments that implicate foraging-vigilance behavior as one mechanism driving this pattern. Our results suggest that noise degrades habitat that is otherwise suitable, and that the presence of a species does not indicate the absence of an impact.traffic noise pollution | songbird migration | habitat degradation | foraging-vigilance trade-off | perceived predation risk H uman infrastructure shapes animal behaviors, distributions, and communities (1, 2). A meta-analysis of 49 datasets from across the globe found that bird populations decline within 1km of human infrastructure, including roads (2). Observational studies of birds near roads implicate traffic noise as a primary driver of these declines (3). Road ecology research has also shown negative correlations between traffic noise levels and songbird reproduction (4, 5). Birds that produce low frequency songs, likely masked by traffic noise, show the strongest avoidance of roads (6).There is now substantial evidence that anthropogenic noise has detrimental impacts on a variety of species (3, 7-10). For example, work in natural gas extraction fields has demonstrated that compressor station noise alters songbird breeding distribution and species richness (11-13). However, explicit experiments would help to further rule out other characteristics of infrastructure, such as visual disturbance, collisions, chemical pollution, and edge effects, which might be driving these patterns (3). In addition, although these studies implicate noise as a causal factor in population declines, many individuals remain despite noise exposure (3), but at what cost? Proposed causes of decreased fitness for birds in noise include song masking, interference with mate evaluation, nonrandom distribution of territorial individuals, disruption of parentchick communication, reduced foraging opportunities, and/or alterations in the foraging/vigilance trade-off (3, 4).Here we parse the independent role of traffic noise from other aspects of roads experimentally by playing traffic sounds in a roadless area, creating a 'phantom road'. We focus on birds during migratory stopover, because energy budgets are streamlined; foraging, vigilance, and rest dominate activity (14). To meet the amplified physiological needs of sustained nocturnal migratory flights, birds must increase foraging during periods of stopover while maintaining appropriate vigil...

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How and why environmental noise impacts animals: an integrative, mechanistic review

Cited by 481 publications

References 87 publications

Anthropogenic noise alters dwarf mongoose responses to heterospecific alarm calls

Anthropogenic noise alters dwarf mongoose responses to heterospecific alarm calls

Anthropogenic noise weakens territorial response to intruder's songs

A phantom road experiment reveals traffic noise is an invisible source of habitat degradation

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