Noise Pollution Changes Avian Communities and Species Interactions

Abstract

Humans have drastically changed much of the world's acoustic background with anthropogenic sounds that are markedly different in pitch and amplitude than sounds in most natural habitats. This novel acoustic background may be detrimental for many species, particularly birds. We evaluated conservation concerns that noise limits bird distributions and reduces nesting success via a natural experiment to isolate the effects of noise from confounding stimuli and to control for the effect of noise on observer detection biases. We show that noise alone reduces nesting species richness and leads to different avian communities. Contrary to expectations, noise indirectly facilitates reproductive success of individuals nesting in noisy areas as a result of the disruption of predator-prey interactions. The higher reproductive success for birds within noisy habitats may be a previously unrecognized factor contributing to the success of urban-adapted species and the loss of birds less tolerant of noise. Additionally, our findings suggest that noise can have cascading consequences for communities through altered species interactions. Given that noise pollution is becoming ubiquitous throughout much of the world, knowledge of species-specific responses to noise and the cumulative effects of these novel acoustics may be crucial to understanding and managing human-altered landscapes.

Testing the AC/DC hypothesis: Rock and roll is noise pollution and weakens a trophic cascade

“…Most studies of anthropogenic sound focus on the direct individual‐level (e.g., physiological stress) or population‐level (e.g., mate‐finding) effects, with relatively few examples of community‐level indirect effects. Studies have suggested that anthropogenic sounds could alter interactions between predators and prey through mechanisms including antipredator behavior and vigilance (e.g., (Francis et al., 2009; Wale, Simpson, & Radford, 2013; Rabin, Coss, & Owings, 2006)). However, our study uniquely shows that anthropogenic sounds can alter predation rates and indirectly affect prey abundance and plant biomass.…”

“…Anthropogenic sound is increasingly recognized as a major component of global change in both urban and rural environments (Buxton et al., 2017), but its consequences for species and their interactions remain relatively unknown. Sound is an important part of many species life histories, and consequently, anthropogenic sounds can disrupt these activities and processes (Barber, Crooks, & Fristrup, 2010; Francis, Ortega, & Cruz, 2009; McMahon, Rohr, & Bernal, 2017). While some studies have explored the effects of noise at the individual or intraspecific level, considerably less is known about how anthropogenic sound can influence interactions among species in a community (McMahon et al., 2017).…”

Рeкoнструкциja Хe „jajцe Ii“- Прoцjeнa Утицaja Нa Живoтну Срeдину

“…Букa кoja мoжe нaстaти приликoм рaдa машина може да утичe нa фaуну, jeр oнeмoгућуje стaлaн бoрaвaк живoтињa и утиче на помјерање извaн домета извoрa букe (Barber, et al, 2011;Francis, et al, 2009). Будући да ће се током реконструкције употребљавати већи број грађевинских машина и транспортних средстава која производе буку, ниво буке може трајно или повремено прелазити уобичајен ниво допуштене буке на граници стамбене зоне, од 45 dBA.…”

Seasonal and urban effects on the endocrinology of a wild passerine

“…In particular, the latter seems to be challenging for urban birds as the noise interferes with avian acoustic communication, has the potential to change species composition, and may cause serious fitness consequences (Francis et al. 2009; González‐Oreja et al. 2012; Schroeder et al.…”