Article written by Erica Castaneda, Vernell R. Leavings, Reed F. Noss, and Molly K. Grace
We all know how annoying traffic noise can be when we’re trying to get a good nights sleep or simply some relaxation, but we are not the only ones effected. It has been proven that many other species that have to deal with this level of noise are often more stressed out, which impacts their immune function, parental care ability, defense against predators, problems with communication, and much more. This study, published in the Urban Ecosystems journal, specifically looked at how this can change a tadpoles behavior and development. Many frogs and toads choose to lay their eggs in roadside ditches, as there really aren’t as many predators around; however as I'm sure you know, the side of the road is not the best place to be having babies! They studied both Cuban Treefrog and Southern Toad tadpoles with a control group (experiencing no traffic sounds) and an experimental group (experiencing constant traffic sounds). Overall they found that the tadpoles subjected to traffic noise increased their activity levels, decreased their food consumption, but it did not seem to have an overall effect on metamorphosis. This is important to consider, as higher activity rates have been associated with lower predation survival.
While this study did not find that traffic noise detrimentally impacted metamorphosis of tadpoles, they did find that it was at the very least, stress inducing. They only tested for the effect of traffic noise, but there are many other detrimental factors that could impact anuran success and development in roadside ditches, such as pollution and other human activities. This study is important, as it reminds us that the things we do may have unexpected impacts and consequences for other living organisms around us. Being conscious of our impact is the first step in working to counteract those effects and better allow for the success of all kinds of life!
1 comment:
Very interesting. How loud was the simulated traffic noise used in the study; would it be similar in loudness to right next to a very busy freeway or more like tens of meters away from a smaller road?
Post a Comment