Traffic noise playback reduces the activity and feeding behaviour of free-living bats

Finch, Domhnall; Schofield, Henry; Mathews, Fiona

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114405

Cited by 47 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…We also detected no impact of traffic noise on bat activity. This is unexpected considering that controlled studies [i.e., in vitro or field-playback; 45 , 58 – 61 ] find that it is detrimental to diverse bats, specifically to foraging. In the field, bats could be attracted to roadside habitats if streetlights attract insect prey and bats can still detect and hunt them [as proposed by 62 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological impacts of the LED-streetlight retrofit on insectivorous bats in Singapore

2021

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Cities around the world are transitioning to more efficient lighting schemes, especially retrofitting traditional, high-pressure sodium (HPS) streetlights with light-emitting diode (LED) lights. Although these initiatives aim to address the problems of urban sustainability and save money, the ecological impacts of these retrofits remain poorly understood, especially in brightly lit cities and in the tropics, where urbanisation is most rapid. We performed an experimental study of the retrofit in Singapore–focusing on insectivorous bats, whose activity we monitored acoustically along paired control (HPS-lit) and treatment (LED-lit) streets. We recorded seven species along these streets, but only obtained enough recordings to measure the effect of light type for three of them–all of which can reasonably be described as urban adapters. The strongest predictor of bat activity (an index of habitat use) was rainfall–it has a positive effect. Light type did not influence bat activity or species composition of the bat assemblage along these streets, though it did interact with the effects of rainfall and traffic noise for one bat species. Ultimately, the retrofit may be ecologically meaningless to urban-adapted, tropical insectivores that already experience high levels of light pollution as they do in Singapore. However, while our findings may appear reassuring to those concerned with such retrofits in other tropical and/or brightly-lit cities, they also highlight the contextual nature of ecological impacts. We point out that they should not be prematurely generalised to other locales and systems. In particular, they do not imply no impact on species that are less urban-adapted, and there is a clear need for further studies, for example, on responses of other foraging guilds and of bats (and insects) throughout the tropics.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological impacts of the LED-streetlight retrofit on insectivorous bats in Singapore

2021

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“…is positively correlated with distance from the road (Berthinussen & Altringham 2012b). Roads also create acoustic barriers: bat activity is reduced at least 20 m from traffic noise playback, even in the absence of the physical features such as cars (Finch et al 2020). Foraging time and prey capture success is reduced up to 60 m from a highway, due to traffic noise masking the sounds of insect movements (Schaub et al 2008, Siemers & Schaub 2011.…”

Section: Roadsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drivers of European bat population change: a review reveals evidence gaps

et al. 2021

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1. Bat populations are thought to have suffered significant declines in the past century throughout Europe. Fortunately, there are some signs of recovery; for instance, of the 11 species monitored in the UK, population trends of five are increasing. The drivers of past losses and recent trends are unclear; identifying them will enable targeted conservation strategies to support further recovery. 2. We review the evidence linking proposed drivers to impacts on bat populations in Europe, using the results of a previous cross-taxa semi-quantitative assessment as a framework. Broadly, the drivers reviewed relate to land-use practices, climate change, pollution, development and infrastructure, and human disturbance. We highlight where evidence gaps or conflicts present barriers to successful conservation and review emerging opportunities to address these gaps. 3. We find that the relative importance or impacts of the potential drivers of bat population change are not well understood or quantified, with conflicting evidence in many cases. To close key gaps in the evidence for responses of bat populations to environmental change, future studies should focus on the impacts of climate change, urbanisation, offshore wind turbines, and water pollution, as well as on mitigation measures and the synergistic effects of putative drivers. 4. To increase available evidence of drivers of bat population change, we propose utilising advances in monitoring tools and statistical methods, together with robust quantitative assessment of conservation interventions to mitigate threats and enable the effective conservation of these protected species.

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“…In particular, noise-induced reductions in foraging rates and efficiencies have been well documented in bats (Song et al 2020 ; Finch et al 2020 ). In a recent field study, Finch et al ( 2020 ) showed that traffic noise playback reduced the activity and feeding of five ecologically different species in the Myotis septentrionalis genus, at 20 m away from the noise source. The mechanism of noise pollution affecting bats is unclear but it may arise from three different aspects.…”

Section: Noise Pollutionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…First, noises cause distractions to bats during their foraging and feeding (Geipel et al 2019 ). Secondly, some bats actively avoid the aversive stimulus of traffic noise, which reduced their success in foraging (Finch et al 2020 ; Luo et al 2015 ). Lastly, traffic noise can mask echolocation calls by bats due to their frequency overlaps (Schaub et al 2008 ; Siemers and Schaub 2011 ).…”

Section: Noise Pollutionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Have artificial lighting and noise pollution caused zoonosis and the COVID-19 pandemic? A review

Shao

Han

2021

Environ Chem Lett

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Where did the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) come from? Did it spread to ‘patient zero’ through proactive human-animal contact? Why did humans faced an increasing number of zoonotic diseases in the past few decades? In this article, we propose a new theory by which human pollution such as artificial lighting and noise accentuate pathogen shedding from bats and other wild habitants in urban environments. This theory differs from the current hypothesis that wildlife trades and bushmeat consumption largely contribute to the spillover of zoonotic pathogens to humans. As natural reservoirs, bats harbor the greatest number of zoonotic viruses among all mammalian orders, while they also have a unique immune system to maintain functioning. Some bat species roost in proximity with human settlements, including urban communities and surrounding areas that are potentially most impacted by anthropogenic activities. We review the behavioral changes of wild habitants, including bats and other species, caused by environmental pollution such as artificial lighting and noise pollution, with focus on the spillover of zoonotic pathogens to humans. We found that there is a strong positive correlation between environmental stress and the behavior and health conditions of wild species, including bats. Specifically, artificial lighting attracts insectivorous bats to congregate around streetlights, resulting in changes in their diets and improved likelihood of close contact with humans and animals. Moreover, many bat species avoid lit areas by expending more energies on commuting and foraging. Noise pollution has similar effects on bat behavior. Bats exposed to chronic noise pollution have weakened immune functions, increased viral shedding, and declined immunity during pregnancy, lactation, and vulnerable periods due to noised-induced stress. Other wild species exposed to artificial lighting and noise pollution also show stress-induced behaviors and deteriorated health. Overall, evidence supports our hypothesis that artificial lighting and noise pollution have been overlooked as long-term contributors to the spillover of zoonotic pathogens to humans in urban environments.

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Traffic noise playback reduces the activity and feeding behaviour of free-living bats

Cited by 47 publications

References 38 publications

Ecological impacts of the LED-streetlight retrofit on insectivorous bats in Singapore

Ecological impacts of the LED-streetlight retrofit on insectivorous bats in Singapore

Drivers of European bat population change: a review reveals evidence gaps

Have artificial lighting and noise pollution caused zoonosis and the COVID-19 pandemic? A review

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