Influence of Anthropogenic Sounds on Insect, Anuran and Bird Acoustic Signals: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Acoustic communication is a way of information exchange between individuals, and it is used by several animal species. Therefore, the detection, recognition and correct understanding of acoustic signals are key factors in effective communication. The priority of acoustic communication is effectiveness rather than perfection, being effective avoids affecting the sound-based communication system of the species. One of the factors that can affect effective communication is the overlap in time and frequency during signal transmission, known as signal masking. One type of sound that can cause masking is anthropogenic noise, which is currently increasing due to urban growth and consequently motorized transportation and machinery. When exposed to anthropogenic noise, animals can use compensatory mechanisms to deal with sound masking, such as the modification of acoustic parameters of their acoustic signal. Here, we performed a meta-analysis investigating whether different taxa have a general tendency for changes in acoustic parameters due to anthropogenic noise, we used taxa and acoustic parameters available in the literature that met the minimum criteria to perform a meta-analysis. We hypothesized that animals exposed to anthropogenic noise use compensation mechanisms, such as changes in dominant, maximum or minimum frequencies, call duration, note duration and call rate to deal with masking. We performed a meta-analysis, which synthesized information from 73 studies comprising 82 species of three taxa: insects, anurans and birds. Our results showed that in the presence of anthropogenic noise, insects did not change the acoustic parameters, while anurans increased call amplitude and birds increased dominant frequency, minimum and maximum frequencies, note duration and amplitude of their songs. The different responses of the groups to anthropogenic noise may be related to their particularities in the production and reception of sound or to the differences in the acoustic parameters considered between the taxa and also the lack of studies in some taxa.

Tactics of evasion: strategies used by signallers to deter eavesdropping enemies from exploiting communication systems

“…Noise and light pollution, which are intrinsically associated with human settlements but often also extend beyond cities, can interfere with the ability of target and non‐target receivers to respond to signals. An increasing number of studies have evaluated how acoustic noise pollution affects the timing or structure of animal signals (reviewed in Gomes et al ., 2022). Fewer studies have examined how eavesdroppers are affected by noise pollution but it is evident that this type of habitat degradation can affect the ability of eavesdropping parasitoid flies (Phillips et al ., 2019) and micropredator midges (McMahon et al ., 2017) to locate their victims (field crickets and frogs, respectively).…”

Ecologia Urbana E Covid-19: Reflexões Sobre Comportamento Ambiental E Turismo Ecológico

“…As atividades humanas geram ruídos que sobrepõem a comunicação de diversas espécies de animais, produzindo o efeito chamado de mascaramento (GOMES et al, 2022). O mesmo ocorre em processos comunicacionais entre populações e famílias de vários grupos de seres vivos, como as aves e os primatas.…”

“…A partir de março de 2020, com a implementação do isolamento social, e consequente redução de circulação de pessoas e de tráfego de veículos, notou-se, em várias regiões do planeta, a presença mais proeminente de espécies silvestres em zonas urbanas, antes não percebidas devido ao acelerado ritmo de vida nas cidades, ou, por outros motivos, ainda em estudo pela comunidade científica (GORDO et al, 2021). Cabe ressaltar que a redução na emissão de gases poluentes e os índices de poluição sonora também foram fatores relacionados às mudanças na atividade dessas espécies nos ambientes urbanos (GOMES et al, 2022).…”

Influence of Conspecifics and Road Noise on the Properties of the Advertisement Call of Phyllodytes Luteolus (Anura, Hylidae)

“…The interference caused by these noises can negatively influence the fitness of individuals, and consequently affect populations and communities (Hanna et al, 2014;Hoskin & Goosem, 2016). Over the last few decades, there has been an increase in studies on the effects of noise on the acoustic communication of organisms (Gomes et al, 2022;Grenat et al, 2019). One of the groups of animals most affected by human noise are anuran amphibians, which use acoustic signals as their main form of communication (Gomes et al, 2022;Wells, 2007).…”

“…Over the last few decades, there has been an increase in studies on the effects of noise on the acoustic communication of organisms (Gomes et al, 2022;Grenat et al, 2019). One of the groups of animals most affected by human noise are anuran amphibians, which use acoustic signals as their main form of communication (Gomes et al, 2022;Wells, 2007).…”