Studies of bioacoustics have shown how important soundscapes are for inter- and intra-species interactions.
Dear EarthTalk: How does “soundscape ecology” help the environment?
—LM, via email
A vast web of species, including humans, connects ecosystems across the globe. Understanding how animals interact with their environment suggests that sound is key to that connection. A soundscape is the combination of all natural and man-made sounds within an environment. Three main types of sound contribute to a soundscape: sound produced by living things, non-living natural sound (such as sunlight, water, soil, wind and temperature) and sound from humans or human-made technology. These are called biophony, geophony and anthropophony respectively.
Studies of bioacoustics have shown how important soundscapes are for inter- and intra-species interactions. Maia Pershe, a field biologist and bioacoustics researcher at the Baraboo Hills Research Collective, explains the complexity of a soundscape: “…species that co-evolve in an ecosystem call at a different time or pitch, so their calls don’t overlap, and they are heard above the background… For example, if two frog species are high and low at the same time, one pitch will be lower. Pitch or if they have the same There’s a pitch, they can call at different times of the day.”
The primary disruptor of the natural soundscape is anthropogenic or noise pollution. Noise pollution affects species behavior and can lead to habitat fragmentation. Due to varying levels of tolerance for acoustic disturbance, noise intrusion can make a habitat appear intact but inaccessible to animals. Noise pollution also affects humans. According to UCLA Health, chronic exposure to high decibels is linked to increased stress hormones, risk of heart disease and cognitive impairment.
Silence is not the solution, but rather we must embrace and restore natural soundscapes. Landscape architects like Ohio State University’s Dorothy Imbert and her students are incorporating soundscape ecology into new designs. Their novel proposals at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, New York include raised bluffs and an “acoustic planting matrix”. This technique uses native plants to reduce noise in some areas and attract noise-tolerant animals to others. The pursuit of natural soundscapes is not limited to land. Coral reefs, teeming with life, are also being researched. A study by Timothy Gordon of the University of Exeter found that introducing healthy reef soundscapes with dead reefs improved fish presence.
Whether improving the environment for sensitive species or human well-being, natural soundscapes achieve meaningful goals. You can start by getting actively involved in the local planning process, such as attending annual master plan meetings. This is a great way to advocate for a move towards soundscape harmony and away from noise pollution.
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Previously published in the newspaper
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