Some lessons from the effects of highway noise on birds

Dooling, Robert J.; Popper, Arthur N.

doi:10.1121/2.0000244

Cited by 42 publications

(60 citation statements)

References 46 publications

(50 reference statements)

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“…One possible explanation for generally similar responses by these species is that they have similar vocal frequency ranges, which are known to correlate with hearing range (Dooling and Popper 2007). Although the exact critical ratio, which is the minimum amplitude necessary at a specific frequency for detection of an acoustic signal, is not known for either species, two other emberizids, the song sparrow (Melospiza melodia), and swamp sparrow (Melospiza georgiana), are reported to have maximum hearing sensitivity at 2-5 kHz (Okanoya andDooling 1988, Gall et al 2012).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

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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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anthropogenic noise weakens territorial response to intruder's songs

et al. 2016

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“…The noise file had a high‐pass cut‐off frequency at 100 Hz and a spectral energy decrease of 6.5 dB/kHz toward the higher frequencies (Halfwerk & Slabbekoorn, ; Halfwerk, Bot, et al., ). Based on values of noise levels reported close to the highways (Dooling & Popper, ) and in order to be able to compare current research with results from a previous study (Huet des Aunay et al., ), we broadcast urban noise with a constant amplitude level of 77 dB (re. 20 μPa; measured with a Ro‐LINE SPL meter 1, using “A” weighting, at the typical position of the test bird, 20 cm from the loudspeaker).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Negative impact of urban noise on sexual receptivity and clutch size in female domestic canaries

et al. 2017

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In oscines, male song stimulates female reproduction and females are known to adjust both their sexual preferences and their maternal investment according to song quality.Female domestic canaries are especially responsive to wide frequency bandwidth (4 kHz) male songs emitted with a high-repetition syllable rate and low minimal frequencies (1 kHz). We previously showed that low-frequency urban noise decreases female sexual responsiveness for these low-frequency songs (1-5 kHz) through auditory masking. Based on the differential allocation hypothesis, we predicted that urban noise exposure will equally affect female maternal investment. Using a crossover design, we broadcast low-frequency songs to females either in an overlapping noise condition or in an alternating noise condition. Females decreased both their sexual responsiveness and their clutch size in the overlapping noise treatment relative to the alternative noise treatment. No differences were found concerning egg size or egg composition (yolk and albumen mass, testosterone concentration). Due to our experimental design, we can exclude a general impact of noisy conditions and thereby provide evidence for a detrimental effect through masking on avian courtship and reproductive output. These results suggest that noisy conditions may also affect avian communication in outdoor conditions, which may partly explain field reports on noisedependent breeding success and reduced breeding densities at noisy sites. K E Y W O R D Santhropogenic noise, birdsong, clutch size, domestic canary, maternal investment

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“…La tendencia de aumentar la frecuencia del canto en las aves en respuesta al ruido se debe al solapamiento entre la frecuencia del canto y la frecuencia del ruido [22,25]; esto se explica porque, según Dooling y Popper [26], cuando un vehículo en movimiento produce una intensidad de ruido >40 dB, se da como consecuencia el enmascaramiento del canto en las aves; en las mediciones se obtuvieron valores promedio de 69,34 dB y 55,31 dB, para Potrerillo y CURDN, respectivamente, lo que quiere decir que en las localidades evaluadas el sonido de los autos logra enmascarar los cantos de las especies de aves estudiadas a una distancia de 160 m de la vía principal. Por lo anterior, los individuos de las especies H. flavipes y C. gujanensis aumentan la frecuencia mínima del canto para evitar dicho efecto, logrando así evitar el solapamiento de la frecuencia más baja de los cantos con el ruido.…”

Section: Metodologíaunclassified

Efecto del ruido del tráfico vehicular en cantos de Hylophilus flavipes y Cyclarhis gujanensis

Pacheco-Vargas

Losada-Prado²

2015

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Efecto del ruido del tráfico vehicular en cantos deHylophilus flavipes y Cyclarhis gujanensis Resumen La hipótesis de adaptación acústica ha justificado que la estructura del hábitat y la intervención antrópica son factores que influyen en la variación de las vocalizaciones de las aves. Este estudio estimó el efecto del ruido del tráfico vehicular sobre las vocalizaciones de Hylophilus flavipes y Cyclarhis gujanensis. Se efectuaron transectos paralelos a carreteras en dos localidades del bosque seco tropical del departamento del Tolima; se realizó la grabación de sus cantos y la medición de la intensidad de ruido emitido por los vehículos. Se encontró que H. flavipes y C. gujanensis emiten cantos con una frecuencia mínima mayor cuando se encuentran en lugares donde la intensidad del ruido está por encima de los 40 dB. Así mismo, H. flavipes genera cantos con una menor duración de notas y una mayor duración entre notas, y tiende a cantar con menor número de notas cuando se ubican cerca de la carretera. Además, la última nota de los cantos de C. gujanensis tiende a ser más duradera bajo estas condiciones. Este estudio permitió determinar una variación en las vocalizaciones de las dos especies ante este factor, evidenciándose una respuesta mayor en H. flavipes que en C. gujanensis.Palabras clave: canto, Cyclarhis gujanensis, Hylophilus flavipes, ruido, tráfico vehicular. AbstractThe acoustic adaptation hypothesis had evidenced that the structure of habitat and human intervention are factors that influence the variation in bird vocalizations. This study estimated the effect of road traffic noise on the vocalizations of Cyclarhis gujanensis and Hylophilus flavipes. Parallel transects were laid at two locations in tropical dry forest in the Tolima department, and the songs and noise intensity measurements were recorded. H. flavipes and C. gujanensis sang songs with a higher minimum frequency when in places with noise level above 40 dB. Additionaly, H. flavipes sang songs with a shorter duration of notes and longer duration between notes, and sang with fewer notes in places close to the highway. Furthermore, the last note of C. gujanensis songs tended to be longer under these conditions. This study demonstrated a variation in vocalizations of two species under road traffic noise, with a greater response from H. flavipes than C. gujanensis.

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Some lessons from the effects of highway noise on birds

Cited by 42 publications

References 46 publications

Anthropogenic noise weakens territorial response to intruder's songs

Anthropogenic noise weakens territorial response to intruder's songs

Negative impact of urban noise on sexual receptivity and clutch size in female domestic canaries

Efecto del ruido del tráfico vehicular en cantos de Hylophilus flavipes y Cyclarhis gujanensis

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