Dec. 14, 2012 — A new tool developed by the
Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and its partners is being used by scientists
and land managers to model how noise travels through landscapes and affects
species and ecosystems -- a major factor in land and wildlife management
decisions such as where to locate new roads or recreational trails.
The tool, SPreAD-GIS, uses spatial data layers
to predict how sound spreads from a source through the surrounding landscape
and how it is affected by such factors as vegetation, terrain, weather
conditions, and background sound levels. By determining how sound propagates,
potential impacts to wildlife can be forecasted. Such impacts can include
reducing habitat quality, altering the geographic distribution of species,
disrupting animal communication, and causing stress.
In an example discussed in the paper, the
sensitivities of humans and owls to motor vehicle sound levels were compared.
The results of the SPreAD-GIS analysis showed that in the same location, motor
vehicle noise would affect owls in an area 45 percent larger than the area
affected for humans. Exposure to noise may affect an owl's livelihood as the
animal relies on its acute sense of hearing to detect even the slightest
movement of its prey.
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