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Broad HR, Dibnah AJ, Smith AE, Thornton A. Anthropogenic disturbance affects calling and collective behaviour in corvid roosts. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2024; 379:20230185. [PMID: 38768208 PMCID: PMC11391286 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2023.0185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Acoustic communication plays an important role in coordinating group dynamics and collective movements across a range of taxa. However, anthropogenic disturbance can inhibit the production or reception of acoustic signals. Here, we investigate the effects of noise and light pollution on the calling and collective behaviour of wild jackdaws (Corvus monedula), a highly social corvid species that uses vocalizations to coordinate collective movements at winter roosting sites. Using audio and video monitoring of roosts in areas with differing degrees of urbanization, we evaluate the influence of anthropogenic disturbance on vocalizations and collective movements. We found that when levels of background noise were higher, jackdaws took longer to settle following arrival at the roost in the evening and also called more during the night, suggesting that human disturbance may cause sleep disruption. High levels of overnight calling were, in turn, linked to disruption of vocal consensus decision-making and less cohesive group departures in the morning. These results raise the possibility that, by affecting cognitive and perceptual processes, human activities may interfere with animals' ability to coordinate collective behaviour. Understanding links between anthropogenic disturbance, communication, cognition and collective behaviour must be an important research priority in our increasingly urbanized world. This article is part of the theme issue 'The power of sound: unravelling how acoustic communication shapes group dynamics'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah R Broad
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter , Penryn TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Alex J Dibnah
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter , Penryn TR10 9FE, UK
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales , Sydney, 2052 NSW, Australia
| | - Anna E Smith
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter , Penryn TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Alex Thornton
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter , Penryn TR10 9FE, UK
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2
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Chou TL, Krishna A, Fossesca M, Desai A, Goldberg J, Jones S, Stephens M, Basile BM, Gall MD. Interspecific differences in the effects of masking and distraction on anti-predator behavior in suburban anthropogenic noise. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0290330. [PMID: 37594981 PMCID: PMC10437853 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0290330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Predation is a common threat to animal survival. The detection of predators or anti-predator communication signals can be disrupted by anthropogenic noise; however, the mechanism by which responses are affected is unclear. Masking and distraction are the two hypotheses that have emerged as likely explanations for changes in behavior in noise. Masking occurs when the signal and noise fall within the same sensory domain; noise overlapping the energy in the signal reduces signal detection. Distraction can occur when noise in any sensory domain contributes to a greater cognitive load, thereby reducing signal detection. Here, we used a repeated measures field experiment to determine the relative contributions of masking and distraction in mediating reduced anti-predator responses in noise. We recorded the approaches and vocalizations of black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus), tufted titmice (Baeolophus bicolor), and white-breasted nuthatches (Sitta carolinensis) to both visual and acoustic cues of predator presence, either with or without simultaneous exposure to anthropogenic noise. Titmice increased their calling to both visual and acoustic cues of predator presence. However, there was no significant effect of noise on the calling responses of titmice regardless of stimulus modality. Noise appeared to produce a distraction effect in chickadees; however, this effect was small, suggesting that chickadees may be relatively unaffected by low levels of anthropogenic noise in suburban environments. White-breasted nuthatch calling behavior was affected by the interaction of the modality of the predator stimulus and the noise condition. Nuthatches had a delayed response to the predator presentations, with a greater calling rate following the presentation of the acoustic stimulus in quiet compared to the presentation of the acoustic stimulus in noise. However, there was no difference in calling rate between the quiet and noise conditions for the visual stimulus. Together this suggests that even moderate levels of noise have some masking effect for white-breasted nuthatches. We suggest that the mechanisms through which noise influences anti-predator behavior may depend on the social roles, foraging ecology and auditory capabilities of each species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trina L. Chou
- Neuroscience and Behavior Program, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY, United States of America
| | - Anjali Krishna
- Biology Department, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY, United States of America
| | - Mark Fossesca
- Neuroscience and Behavior Program, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY, United States of America
| | - Avani Desai
- Biology Department, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY, United States of America
| | - Julia Goldberg
- Biology Department, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY, United States of America
| | - Sophie Jones
- Biology Department, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY, United States of America
| | - Morgan Stephens
- Biology Department, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY, United States of America
| | - Benjamin M. Basile
- Department of Psychology, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA, United States of America
| | - Megan D. Gall
- Neuroscience and Behavior Program, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY, United States of America
- Biology Department, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY, United States of America
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3
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Des Brisay PG, Burns LD, Ellison K, Anderson WG, Leonard M, Koper N. Oil Infrastructure has Greater Impact than Noise on Stress and Habitat Selection in Three Grassland Songbirds. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 71:393-404. [PMID: 36459195 PMCID: PMC9892115 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-022-01752-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Oil extraction may impact wildlife by altering habitat suitability and affecting stress levels and behavior of individuals, but it can be challenging to disentangle the impacts of infrastructure itself on wildlife from associated noise and human activity at well sites. We evaluated whether the demographic distribution and corticosterone levels of three grassland passerine species (Chestnut-collared Longspur, Calcarius ornatus; Baird's Sparrow, Centronyx bairdii; and Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis) were impacted by oil development in southern Alberta, Canada. We used a landscape-scale oil well noise-playback experiment to evaluate whether impacts of wells were caused by noise. Surprisingly, higher-quality female Chestnut-collared Longspurs tended to nest closer to oil wells, while higher-quality Savannah Sparrows generally avoided nesting sites impacted by oil wells. Corticosterone levels in all species varied with the presence of oil development (oil wells, noise, or roads), but the magnitude and direction of the response was species and stimulus specific. While we detected numerous impacts of physical infrastructure on stress physiology and spatial demographic patterns, few of these resulted from noise. However, all three species in this study responded to at least one disturbance associated with oil development, so to conserve the grassland songbird community, both the presence of physical infrastructure and anthropogenic noise should be mitigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulson Given Des Brisay
- Natural Resources Institute, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
- Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
| | - Laura Diane Burns
- Natural Resources Institute, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Conservation and Research Department, Assiniboine Park Zoo, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Kevin Ellison
- Northern Great Plains Program, American Bird Conservancy, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | | | - Marty Leonard
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, MB, Canada
| | - Nicola Koper
- Natural Resources Institute, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
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Lee N, Vélez A, Bee M. Behind the mask(ing): how frogs cope with noise. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2023; 209:47-66. [PMID: 36310303 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-022-01586-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Albert Feng was a pioneer in the field of auditory neuroethology who used frogs to investigate the neural basis of spectral and temporal processing and directional hearing. Among his many contributions was connecting neural mechanisms for sound pattern recognition and localization to the problems of auditory masking that frogs encounter when communicating in noisy, real-world environments. Feng's neurophysiological studies of auditory processing foreshadowed and inspired subsequent behavioral investigations of auditory masking in frogs. For frogs, vocal communication frequently occurs in breeding choruses, where males form dense aggregations and produce loud species-specific advertisement calls to attract potential mates and repel competitive rivals. In this review, we aim to highlight how Feng's research advanced our understanding of how frogs cope with noise. We structure our narrative around three themes woven throughout Feng's research-spectral, temporal, and directional processing-to illustrate how frogs can mitigate problems of auditory masking by exploiting frequency separation between signals and noise, temporal fluctuations in noise amplitude, and spatial separation between signals and noise. We conclude by proposing future research that would build on Feng's considerable legacy to advance our understanding of hearing and sound communication in frogs and other vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norman Lee
- Department of Biology, St. Olaf College, 1520 St. Olaf Ave, Northfield, MN, 55057, USA.
| | - Alejandro Vélez
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Ave, San Francisco, CA, 94132, USA
| | - Mark Bee
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, 1479 Gortner Ave, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA.,Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, 321 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
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5
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Byrne B, de Kort SR, Pedley SM. Leafcutter ants adjust foraging behaviours when exposed to noise disturbance. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0269517. [PMID: 35675369 PMCID: PMC9176835 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigate the impact of anthropogenic noise on the foraging efficiency of leafcutter ants (Acromyrmex octospinosus) in a controlled laboratory experiment. Anthropogenic noise is a widespread, pervasive and increasing environmental pollutant and its negative impacts on animal fitness and behaviour have been well documented. Much of this evidence has come from studies concerning vertebrate species with very little evidence for terrestrial invertebrates, especially social living invertebrates. We compare movement speed, forage fragment size, and colony activity levels of ants exposed to intermittent elevated noise and in ambient noise conditions. We use intermittent and temporally unpredictable bursts of white noise produced from a vibration speaker to create the elevated noise profile. Ant movement speed increased under elevated noise conditions when travelling to collect forage material and when returning to the colony nest. The size of individually measured foraged material was significantly reduced under elevated noise conditions. Colony activity, the number of ants moving along the forage route, was not affected by elevated noise and was consistent throughout the foraging events. Increased foraging speed and smaller forage fragments suggests that the ants had to make more foraging trips over an extended period, which is likely to affect energy expenditure and increases exposure to predators. This is likely to have significant fitness impacts for the colony over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Briony Byrne
- Ecology and Environment Research Centre, Department of Natural Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Selvino R. de Kort
- Ecology and Environment Research Centre, Department of Natural Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Scott M. Pedley
- Ecology and Environment Research Centre, Department of Natural Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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Acknowledging the Relevance of Elephant Sensory Perception to Human–Elephant Conflict Mitigation. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12081018. [PMID: 35454264 PMCID: PMC9031250 DOI: 10.3390/ani12081018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Elephants have a unique sensory perspective of the world, using their complex olfactory and auditory systems to make foraging and social decisions. All three species of elephants are endangered and inhabit environments, which are being affected rapidly by human development. Anthropogenic disturbances can have significant effects on elephants’ abilities to perceive sensory information and communicate with one another, potentially further endangering their survival. Conflicts over high-quality resources also arise from the overlapping habitation of humans and elephants. While many different methods have been employed to reduce this conflict, we propose that elephants’ unique olfactory and acoustic sensory strengths be considered in future mitigation strategies to achieve coexistence. Abstract Elephants are well known for their socio-cognitive abilities and capacity for multi-modal sensory perception and communication. Their highly developed olfactory and acoustic senses provide them with a unique non-visual perspective of their physical and social worlds. The use of these complex sensory signals is important not only for communication between conspecifics, but also for decisions about foraging and navigation. These decisions have grown increasingly risky given the exponential increase in unpredictable anthropogenic change in elephants’ natural habitats. Risk taking often develops from the overlap of human and elephant habitat in Asian and African range countries, where elephants forage for food in human habitat and crop fields, leading to conflict over high-quality resources. To mitigate this conflict, a better understanding of the elephants’ sensory world and its impact on their decision-making process should be considered seriously in the development of long-term strategies for promoting coexistence between humans and elephants. In this review, we explore the elephants’ sensory systems for audition and olfaction, their multi-modal capacities for communication, and the anthropogenic changes that are affecting their behavior, as well as the need for greater consideration of elephant behavior in elephant conservation efforts.
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7
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Rosa P, Koper N. Impacts of oil well drilling and operating noise on abundance and productivity of grassland songbirds. J Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Rosa
- Natural Resources Institute University of Manitoba Winnipeg Manitoba Canada
| | - Nicola Koper
- Natural Resources Institute University of Manitoba Winnipeg Manitoba Canada
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8
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Vieira M, Beauchaud M, Amorim MCP, Fonseca PJ. Boat noise affects meagre (Argyrosomus regius) hearing and vocal behaviour. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 172:112824. [PMID: 34391007 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Aquatic noise has increased in last decades imposing new constraints on aquatic animals' acoustic communication. Meagre (Argyrosomus regius) produce loud choruses during the breeding season, likely facilitating aggregations and mating, and are thus amenable to being impacted by anthropogenic noise. We assessed the impact of boat noise on this species acoustic communication by: evaluating possible masking effects of boat noise on hearing using Auditory Evoked Potentials (AEP) and inspecting changes in chorus sound levels from free ranging fish upon boat passages. Our results point to a significant masking effect of anthropogenic noise since we observed a reduction of ca. 20 dB on the ability to discriminate conspecific calls when exposed to boat noise. Furthermore, we verified a reduction in chorus energy during ferryboat passages, a behavioural effect that might ultimately impact spawning. This study is one of few addressing the effects of boat noise by combining different methodologies both in the lab and with free ranging animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Vieira
- Departamento de Biologia Animal and cE3c_Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal; MARE_Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ISPA, Instituto Universitário, Lisbon, Portugal, and Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Marilyn Beauchaud
- Equipe de Neuro-Ethologie Sensorielle; (ENES/CRNL, CNRS UMR 5292, Inserm UMR S 1028) Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université Jean-Monnet de Lyon/Saint-Etienne, Saint-Etienne, France
| | - M Clara P Amorim
- MARE_Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ISPA, Instituto Universitário, Lisbon, Portugal, and Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Paulo J Fonseca
- Departamento de Biologia Animal and cE3c_Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
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9
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Classen-Rodríguez L, Tinghitella R, Fowler-Finn K. Anthropogenic noise affects insect and arachnid behavior, thus changing interactions within and between species. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2021; 47:142-153. [PMID: 34252592 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2021.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Urbanization and the by-product pollutants of anthropogenic activity pose unique threats to arthropods by altering their sensory environments. Sounds generated by human activities, like construction and road traffic, can oversaturate or interfere with biotic acoustic cues that regulate important ecological processes, such as trophic interactions and the coordination of mating. Here, we review recent work exploring how anthropogenic noise impacts inter-intra-specific interactions in insects and arachnids. We outline empirical frameworks for future research that integrate three mechanisms by which anthropogenic noise alters behavior through interference with acoustic cues: masking, distraction, and misleading. Additionally, we emphasize the need for experimental designs that more accurately replicate natural soundscapes. We encourage future investigations on the effects of developmental exposure to noise pollution and the impacts of multiple interacting sensory pollutants on insect and arachnid behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leticia Classen-Rodríguez
- Department of Biology, Saint Louis University, Macelwane Hall, 3507 Laclede Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63103, USA.
| | - Robin Tinghitella
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, Olin Hall, 2190 E Iliff Avenue, Denver, CO 80210, USA
| | - Kasey Fowler-Finn
- Department of Biology, Saint Louis University, Macelwane Hall, 3507 Laclede Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63103, USA; Living Earth Collaborative, Saint Louis, MO, USA
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10
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Obomsawin AP, Mastromonaco GF, Leonard ML. Chronic noise exposure has context-dependent effects on stress physiology in nestling Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor). Gen Comp Endocrinol 2021; 311:113834. [PMID: 34181934 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2021.113834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic noise is increasing in intensity and scope, resulting in changes to acoustic landscapes and largely negative effects on a range of species. In birds, noise can mask acoustic signals used in a variety of communication systems, including parent-offspring communication. As a result, nestling birds raised in noise may have challenges soliciting food from parents and avoiding detection by predators. Given that passerine nestlings are confined to a nest and therefore cannot escape these challenges, noise may also act as a chronic stressor during their development. Here, we raised Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) nestlings with or without continuous, white noise to test whether noise exposure affected baseline and stress-induced plasma, integrated feather corticosterone levels, and immune function. Stress physiology and immune function may also vary with the competitive environment during development, so we also examined whether noise effects varied with brood size and nestling mass. We found that overall, exposure to noise did not alter nestling stress physiology or immune function. However, light nestlings raised in noise exhibited lower baseline plasma and integrated feather corticosterone than heavy nestlings, suggesting alternative physiological responses to anthropogenic stimuli. Furthermore, light nestlings in larger broods had reduced PHA-induced immune responses compared to heavy nestlings, and PHA-induced immune responses were associated with higher levels of baseline plasma and feather CORT. Overall, our findings suggest that noise can alter the stress physiology of developing birds; however, these effects may depend on developmental conditions and the presence of other environmental stressors, such as competition for resources. Our findings may help to explain why populations are not uniformly affected by noise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anik P Obomsawin
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada.
| | | | - Marty L Leonard
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
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11
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Grunst ML, Grunst AS, Pinxten R, Eens M. Variable and consistent traffic noise negatively affect the sleep behavior of a free-living songbird. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 778:146338. [PMID: 34030359 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic noise is a ubiquitous disturbance factor, which, owing to the extensive nature of transportation networks, and ability of sound waves to penetrate distances, has wide-reaching impacts on biological communities. Research effort on biological effects of anthropogenic noise is extensive, but has focused on waking behavior, and to our knowledge, no published experimental study exists on how noise affects sleep in free-living animals. Sleep plays vital functions in processes such as cellular repair and memory consolidation. Thus, understanding the potential for noise to disrupt sleep is a critical research objective. Whether different noise regimes exert distinct effects on behavior also remains poorly understood, as does intraspecific variation in noise sensitivity. To address these knowledge gaps, we used a repeated-measures field experiment involving broad-casting traffic noise recordings at great tit (Parus major) nest boxes over a series of consecutive nights. We evaluated whether increasing the temporal variability and amplitude of traffic noise increased deleterious effects on sleep behavior in free-living great tits, and whether individuals differed in the magnitude of responses. We found that traffic noise reduced sleep duration, proportion, and bout length, and induced birds to exit nest boxes earlier in the morning. There was some support for a stronger effect of more variable noise, and relative to lower amplitude noise, higher amplitude noise resulted in less and more fragmented sleep. Effects of noise on sleep duration were stronger in older adults, and substantial, repeatable variation existed in individual responses. We demonstrate for the first time that anthropogenic noise can have strong effects on sleep in free-living animals, which may have cascading effects on waking behavior, physiology and fitness. Results suggest that reducing the amplitude of traffic noise may be an effective mitigation strategy, and that differences in individual sensitivity are important to consider when evaluating effects of noise exposure. CAPSULE: Experimental exposure to temporally variable and consistent traffic noise negatively affected sleep behavior in a free-living songbird.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa L Grunst
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
| | - Andrea S Grunst
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Rianne Pinxten
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; Faculty of Social Sciences, Didactica Research Group, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Marcel Eens
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
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12
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Owen MA, Pagano AM, Wisdom SS, Kirschhoffer B, Bowles AE, O'Neill C. Estimating the Audibility of Industrial Noise to Denning Polar Bears. J Wildl Manage 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Megan A. Owen
- Institute for Conservation Research, San Diego Zoo Global San Diego CA 92027 USA
| | - Anthony M. Pagano
- Institute for Conservation Research, San Diego Zoo Global San Diego CA 92027 USA
| | | | | | - Ann E. Bowles
- Hubbs‐SeaWorld Research Institute San Diego CA 92109 USA
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13
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Kok AC, van Hulten D, Timmerman KH, Lankhorst J, Visser F, Slabbekoorn H. Interacting effects of short-term and long-term noise exposure on antipredator behaviour in sand gobies. Anim Behav 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2020.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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14
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Jerem P, Mathews F. Trends and knowledge gaps in field research investigating effects of anthropogenic noise. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2021; 35:115-129. [PMID: 32277776 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Revised: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic noise is a globally widespread sensory pollutant, recognized as having potentially adverse effects on function, demography, and physiology in wild animals. Human population growth and associated changes in urbanization, transportation, and resource extraction all contribute to anthropogenic noise and are predicted to increase in the coming decades. Wildlife exposure to anthropogenic noise is expected to rise correspondingly. Data collected through field research are uniquely important in advancing understanding of the real-world repercussions of human activity on wildlife. We, therefore, performed a systematic review of literature published from 2008 to 2018 that reported on field investigations of anthropogenic noise impacts. We evaluated publication metrics (e.g., publication rates and journal type), geographical distribution of studies, study subject, and methods used. Research activity increased markedly over the assessment period. However, there was a pronounced geographical bias in research, with most being conducted in North America or Europe, and a notable focus on terrestrial environments. Fewer than one-fifth of terrestrial studies were located in rural areas likely to experience urbanization by 2030, meaning data on ecosystems most likely to be affected by future changes are not being gathered. There was also bias in the taxonomic groups investigated. Most research was conducted on birds and aquatic mammals, whereas terrestrial mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates received limited attention. Almost all terrestrial studies examined diurnal species, despite evidence that nocturnality is the prevailing animal activity pattern. Nearly half the studies investigated effects of road or urban noise; the bulk of research was restricted to functional, rather than physiological or demographic consequences. Few experimental studies addressed repercussions of long-term exposure to anthropogenic noise or long-term postexposure effects, and multiple noise types or levels were rarely compared. Tackling these knowledge gaps will be vital for successful management of the effects of increasing wildlife exposure to anthropogenic noise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Jerem
- Department of Evolution, Behaviour and Environment, University of Sussex, John Maynard Smith Building, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9QG, U.K
| | - Fiona Mathews
- Department of Evolution, Behaviour and Environment, University of Sussex, John Maynard Smith Building, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9QG, U.K
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15
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Cyr MÈ, Wetten K, Warrington MH, Koper N. Variation in song structure of house wrens living in urban and rural areas in a Caribbean small island developing state. BIOACOUSTICS 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/09524622.2020.1835538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Ève Cyr
- Natural Resources Institute, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Kimberley Wetten
- Natural Resources Institute, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | | | - Nicola Koper
- Natural Resources Institute, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
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16
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Effect of noise on development of call discrimination by nestling tree swallows, Tachycineta bicolor. Anim Behav 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2020.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Sumner CJ, Sumner S. Signal detection: applying analysis methods from psychology to animal behaviour. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2020; 375:20190480. [PMID: 32420861 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Conspecific acceptance thresholds (Reeve 1989 Am. Nat. 133, 407-435), which have been widely applied to explain ecological behaviour in animals, proposed how sensory information, prior information and the costs of decisions determine actions. Signal detection theory (Green & Swets 1966 Signal detection theory and psychophysics; SDT), which forms the basis of CAT models, has been widely used in psychological studies to partition the ability to discriminate sensory information from the action made as a result of it. In this article, we will review the application of SDT in interpreting the behaviour of laboratory animals trained in operant conditioning tasks and then consider its potential in ecological studies of animal behaviour in natural environments. Focusing on the nest-mate recognition systems exhibited by social insects, we show how the quantitative application of SDT has the potential to transform acceptance rate data into independent indices of cue sensitivity and decision criterion (also known as the acceptance threshold). However, further tests of the assumptions underlying SDT analysis are required. Overall, we argue that SDT, as conventionally applied in psychological studies, may provide clearer insights into the mechanistic basis of decision making and information processing in behavioural ecology. This article is part of the theme issue 'Signal detection theory in recognition systems: from evolving models to experimental tests'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian J Sumner
- Department of Psychology, Nottingham Trent University, 50 Shakespeare Street, Nottingham NG1 4FQ, UK
| | - Seirian Sumner
- Centre for Biodiversity and Environmental Research, Department of Genetics Evolution and Environment, Division of Biosciences, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
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Sathyan R, Couldridge V. The effect of anthropogenic noise and weather conditions on male calls in the bladder grasshopper Bullacris unicolor. BIOACOUSTICS 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/09524622.2019.1703818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rekha Sathyan
- Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
| | - Vanessa Couldridge
- Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
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Whalen CE, Brown MB, McGee J, Powell LA, Walsh EJ. Wind turbine noise limits propagation of greater prairie‐chicken boom chorus, but does it matter? Ethology 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Cara E. Whalen
- School of Natural Resources University of Nebraska Lincoln NE USA
| | | | - JoAnn McGee
- Developmental Auditory Physiology Laboratory Boys Town National Research Hospital Omaha NE USA
| | - Larkin A. Powell
- School of Natural Resources University of Nebraska Lincoln NE USA
| | - Edward J. Walsh
- Developmental Auditory Physiology Laboratory Boys Town National Research Hospital Omaha NE USA
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Proulx R, Waldinger J, Koper N. Anthropogenic Landscape Changes and Their Impacts on Terrestrial and Freshwater Soundscapes. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s40823-019-00038-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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