According to a recent study, bird species are affected by industrial noise pollution.
A new study claims to have found proof that industrial noise pollution stresses birds. Researchers observed that specimens who are constantly exposed to this type of noise pollution could produce chicks with stunted growth. Specialists from the University of Colorado Boulder noted that these birds also suffered from chronic stress.
A study paper was published in the PNAS or the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Is Industrial Noise Pollution Affecting Earth’s Flyers?
Research also observed that the western bluebirds lay fewer eggs which hatch when nesting in areas polluted by industrial noise. The study team was amazed to see that the bird species they considered to be more tolerant to this pollution were the ones most affected by it.
The experts who conducted this research mentioned that their findings add to the evidence that human activity is harming the wildlife.
They also mentioned that these findings could show how industrial noise pollution can affect people. To conduct their analysis, the researchers monitored three species of birds used to laying eggs near noise-polluted areas. These species include ash-throated flycatchers, and mountain and western bluebirds.
Researchers monitored the birds over three breeding seasons. Over this period, they took blood samples from females specimens and their offspring.
Researchers looked at the nestling’s body size, the feather length, and the hatching success. They observed that the birds which lived in areas with a higher industrial noise pollution had a lower baseline level of a hormone named corticosterone.
Experts mentioned that these birds are used with the noise. Their fight-or-flight alert is also not as sensitive as the one of birds which live in an area that is not noise-polluted.
Lower levels of corticosterone can cause reduced weight gain and inflammation. Previous studies showed that this applies to people and other animals as well.
“In this study, we were able to demonstrate that dysregulation due to noise has reproductive consequences,” said the study’s senior author, Clinton Francis.
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