Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 3, 2026
07:13
Modified Experimental Conditions for Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Mice and Assessment of Hearing Function and Outer Hair Cell Damage
Published on: February 10, 2023
2.9K
Noise pollution is pervasive in U.S. protected areas.
Rachel T Buxton1, Megan F McKenna2, Daniel Mennitt3
1Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1474, USA. rachel.buxton@colostate.edu.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|May 6, 2017
Summary
Anthropogenic noise significantly impacts U.S. protected areas, doubling background sound in most and increasing it tenfold in 21%. Stricter regulations correlate with lower noise levels, highlighting key areas for conservation efforts.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Environmental Science
- Conservation Biology
Background:
- Anthropogenic noise poses a significant threat to ecological systems.
- Protected areas are vital for preserving biodiversity and cultural resources, yet are increasingly impacted by human-generated sound.
- Understanding the extent and sources of noise pollution is crucial for effective conservation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the prevalence and intensity of anthropogenic noise in U.S. protected areas.
- To identify the relationship between noise levels and protected area regulations.
- To pinpoint land-use factors associated with elevated noise pollution in these critical habitats.
Main Methods:
- Utilized continental-scale sound models to assess background sound levels across U.S. protected area units.
- Analyzed noise level increases in relation to human visitor experience and wildlife disruption thresholds.
- Correlated noise pollution data with land-use patterns, including transportation, development, and extractive activities.
Main Results:
- Anthropogenic noise doubled background sound levels in 63% of U.S. protected areas.
- A 10-fold or greater increase in sound levels was observed in 21% of protected areas.
- 14% of endangered species' critical habitats experienced a tenfold increase in sound levels, with stricter regulations showing less noise.
Conclusions:
- Noise pollution is widespread in U.S. protected areas, impacting biodiversity and visitor experiences.
- Noise levels are linked to transportation, development, and extractive land use, indicating areas for targeted mitigation.
- Implementing and enforcing stringent regulations in protected areas can effectively reduce anthropogenic noise pollution.
Related Concept Videos
01:50Threats to Biodiversity
27.5K
There have been five major extinction events throughout geological history, resulting in the elimination of biodiversity, followed by a rebound of species that adapted to the new conditions. In the current geological epoch, the Holocene, there is a sixth extinction event in progress. This mass extinction has been attributed to human activities and is thus provisionally called the Anthropocene. In 2019 the human population reached 7.7 billion people and is projected to comprise 10 billion by...
27.5K
02:07Conservation of Declining Populations
13.5K
Conservation of declining population focuses on ways of detecting, diagnosing, and halting a population decline. The approach uses methods to prevent populations from going extinct.
13.5K
02:31Habitat Fragmentation
21.6K
Habitat fragmentation describes the division of a more extensive, continuous habitat into smaller, discontinuous areas. Human activities such as land conversion, as well as slower geological processes leading to changes in the physical environment, are the two leading causes of habitat fragmentation. The fragmentation process typically follows the same steps: perforation, dissection, fragmentation, shrinkage, and attrition.
21.6K
00:53Sound Intensity Level
5.0K
Humans perceive sound by hearing. The human ear helps sound waves reach the brain, which then interprets the waves and creates the perception of hearing. The loudness of the environment in which a person is located determines whether they can distinguish between different sound sources.
The human ear can perceive an extensive range of sound intensity, necessitating the use of the logarithmic scale to define a physical quantity—the intensity level. It is a ratio of two intensities and...
The human ear can perceive an extensive range of sound intensity, necessitating the use of the logarithmic scale to define a physical quantity—the intensity level. It is a ratio of two intensities and...
5.0K
01:57What is Conservation Biology?
24.6K
Conservation biology is a scientific field that focuses on the preservation of biodiversity in order to protect ecosystems while meeting the needs of the human population. Humans require properly functioning ecosystems to maintain our supply of natural resources, including food, medicines, and building materials.
24.6K
02:04Conservation of Small Populations
17.5K
Small population sizes put a species at extreme risk of extinction due to a lack of variation, and a consequent decrease in adaptability. This weakens the chances of survival under pressures such as climate change, competition from other species, or new diseases. Large populations are more likely to survive pressures such as these, as such populations are more likely to harbor individuals that have genetic variants that are adaptive under new stresses. Small populations are much less...
17.5K