Effects of Ambient Noise on Nestling Birds.

环境噪音对雏鸟的影响。

• 批准号: RGPIN-2016-04196
• 负责人: Leonard, Marty
• 金额: $ 2.7万
• 依托单位: Dalhousie University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2018
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2018-01-01 至 2019-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=657215
• 关键词: Effects; Ambient; Noise; Nestling; Birds.

Ambient or background noise is a universal challenge for animals that use sound to find resources, avoid predators, and communicate. Animals have adaptations to reduce interference from natural noise such as wind and rain. They are, however, increasingly exposed to human-generated noise from roadways, machinery and urban sprawl, where these adaptations may be ineffective. Human-generated noise is spreading and intensifying worldwide, and its potential to impact many animal species has been identified as an urgent conservation priority.*** A growing literature shows that noise can distract listeners, mask or cover-up relevant sounds, and raise stress levels, all with potential implications for reproductive success and survival. Most studies on this topic have focused on adult animals, but young animals may also be affected by noise. For instance, young of many species are especially reliant on sound to assess their environment because they are confined to burrows and nests, where vision is restricted. Also, the ability of young animals to adjust to noise is often underdeveloped compared to adults. Nonetheless, there are few in-depth studies of the effects of noise on young, free-living animals.******The long-term objective of my research program has been to understand the social and environmental factors that influence parent-offspring communication in birds. Recently, the research has focused on the effects of noise on this communication system. Growing evidence suggests, however, that noise effects may extend well beyond communication and have impacts on many aspects of this early life stage. Therefore, my short-term objective is to test the hypothesis that chronically elevated noise degrades the quality of the rearing environment, with impacts on learning, stress physiology, and predation risk. ***In this research program, my students and I will test a) whether noise affects how nestlings learn to respond to key signals and cues from the parents, b) whether noise elevates stress hormones and c) whether the manner in which nestlings call in noise increases predation risk. In addition to these main questions, we will complete earlier work on the effects of noise on parent-offspring communication, by testing d) whether noise disrupts communication by masking relevant sounds or whether it affects communication in other ways, for instance, through distraction.******This research will be the first to examine the broader effects of noise on free-living animals during early development when they may be especially vulnerable to its effects. The work will also contribute to our understanding of whether the rearing environment adaptively shapes behaviour and physiology, so that animals can better cope with changeable environments.********

对于利用声音寻找资源、躲避捕食者和交流的动物来说，环境或背景噪音是一个普遍的挑战。动物有适应能力来减少自然噪音的干扰，比如风和雨。然而，他们越来越多地暴露在道路、机械和城市扩张产生的人为噪音中，这些适应可能是无效的。人类产生的噪音正在世界范围内蔓延和加剧，它对许多动物物种的潜在影响已被确定为紧急保护的优先事项。越来越多的文献表明，噪音会分散听者的注意力，掩盖或掩盖相关的声音，并增加压力水平，这些都对生殖成功和生存有潜在的影响。关于这一主题的大多数研究都集中在成年动物身上，但幼年动物也可能受到噪音的影响。例如，许多物种的幼崽特别依赖声音来评估它们的环境，因为它们被限制在洞穴和巢穴中，在那里视力受到限制。此外，与成年动物相比，幼小动物适应噪音的能力往往不发达。然而，关于噪音对自由生活的幼小动物的影响的深入研究却很少。******我研究项目的长期目标是了解影响鸟类亲子交流的社会和环境因素。近年来，噪声对该通信系统的影响成为研究的热点。然而，越来越多的证据表明，噪音的影响可能远远超出了沟通的范围，对生命早期阶段的许多方面都有影响。因此，我的短期目标是检验长期升高的噪音会降低饲养环境质量的假设，并对学习、应激生理和捕食风险产生影响。***在这个研究项目中，我和我的学生将测试a)噪音是否会影响雏鸟如何学习对父母的关键信号和线索做出反应，b)噪音是否会提高应激激素，c)雏鸟在噪音中呼叫的方式是否会增加被捕食的风险。除了这些主要问题，我们将完成早期关于噪音对亲子交流影响的工作，通过测试d)噪音是否通过掩盖相关声音来干扰交流，或者是否以其他方式影响交流，例如，通过分散注意力。******这项研究将首次研究噪音对自由生活的动物在早期发育期间的更广泛影响，因为它们可能特别容易受到噪音的影响。这项工作也将有助于我们理解饲养环境是否会适应性地塑造行为和生理，从而使动物能够更好地应对多变的环境。********