Topic
Noise pollution
About: Noise pollution is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 4455 publications have been published within this topic receiving 67192 citations.
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TL;DR: For the first time, chronic noise exposure can affect the antipredator behavior of a breeding bird, and the impact of chronic noise on reproductive performances is investigated.
Abstract: Over the last century, expanding urbanization has led to a strong increase in the levels of background noise. This noise pollution has been shown to negatively affect wildlife (e.g., reduced species diversity and density, reduced breeding success), especially birds. Most research addressing the effects of anthropogenic noise has focused on avian communication and, to date, very little is known regarding the impact of chronic noise exposure on nonvocal behavior such as antipredator behavior. Here, we exposed free-living house sparrows (Passer domesticus) breeding in nest-boxes to either a playback of traffic noise (disturbed birds) or the rural background noise of the study site (no playback: control birds) during their first breeding attempt. We tested whether one of the female’s antipredator behaviors (i.e., flushing distance) was affected by exposure to chronic noise and investigated the impact of chronic noise on reproductive performances. Disturbed females flushed more rapidly than controls, suggesting that birds may compensate for reduced ability to detect predators with increased vigilance. However, we found no significant effect of exposure to chronic noise on reproductive performances. Our findings show, for the first time, that chronic noise exposure can affect the antipredator behavior of a breeding bird.
83 citations
TL;DR: Results reveal that lower activity levels of Brazilian free-tailed bats at loud sites indicate a potential reduction in habitat for this species, and a comparison of echolocation search calls produced by free-tails bats at sites with and without compressor stations reveal that this species modifies its echoline search calls in noise—producing longer calls with a narrower bandwidth.
83 citations
TL;DR: Having a window facing a yard, water or green space was associated to a substantially reduced risk of noise annoyance and concentration problems, and if this window was the bedroom window, sleeping problems were less likely.
Abstract: Background: Access to a quiet side in one’s dwelling is thought to compensate for higher noise levels at the most exposed facade. It has also been indicated that noise from combined traffic sources causes more noise annoyance than equal average levels from either road traffic or railway noise separately. Methods: 2612 persons in Malmo, Sweden, answered to a residential environment survey including questions on outdoor environment, noise sensitivity, noise annoyance, sleep quality and concentration problems. Road traffic and railway noise was modeled using Geographic Information System. Results: Access to a quiet side, i.e., at least one window facing yard, water or green space, was associated with reduced risk of annoyance OR (95%CI) 0.47 (0.38–0.59), and concentration problems 0.76 (0.61–0.95). Bedroom window facing the same environment was associated to reduced risk of reporting of poor sleep quality 0.78 (0.64–1.00). Railway noise was associated with reduced risk of annoyance below 55 dB(A) but not at higher levels of exposure. Conclusions: Having a window facing a yard, water or green space was associated to a substantially reduced risk of noise annoyance and concentration problems. If this window was the bedroom window, sleeping problems were less likely.
83 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the masking effects of urban noise on signal detection using operant tests with great tits in the laboratory and compared masking effect induced by urban noise, woodland noise and a typical dawn chorus, including a variety of singing birds.
82 citations
TL;DR: The potential for noise pollution from pile-driving to disrupt the collective dynamics of fish shoals, which could have implications for the functional benefits of a group's collective behaviour is highlighted.
Abstract: Noise produced from a variety of human activities can affect the physiology and behaviour of individual animals, but whether noise disrupts the social behaviour of animals is largely unknown. Anima ...
82 citations