Study: Noise Pollution Threatens Several Animal Species

Category: Science/Environment

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. pose / poʊz / (v) – to cause or create something bad for another thing
    Example:

    The destruction of forests poses a threat to birds that rely on trees for food and shelter.


  2. disrupt / dɪsˈrʌpt / (v) – to interrupt or disturb something
    Example:

    The bad weather disrupted the flight schedules.


  3. acoustics / əˈku stɪks / (n) – the features or qualities of a room or space that determine whether sounds can be heard clearly or not
    Example:

    I cannot hear him clearly because the meeting room has poor acoustics.


  4. hazard / ˈhæz ərd / (n) – a danger or risk
    Example:

    Air pollution is a serious health hazard.


  5. call to action / kɔl tʊ ˈæk ʃən / (n) – something, usually a statement, that persuades someone to do something
    Example:

    The commercial has a clear call to action to stop bringing plastic bottles to the beach.


Article

Read the text below.

Human-produced noise can have a serious effect on all animal species, a new study has found.


Previous studies have looked into the effect of noise produced by factories, vehicles, and machinery on animals that are sensitive to noise. However, these studies only observed different species individually. Because of this, Queen’s University Belfast scientists Hansjoerg Kunc [hans-YORG kuhnk] and Rouven Schmidt [ROUV-en shmit] decided to compare the effects of noise across various species.


Kunc and Schmidt analyzed 108 earlier studies about the effects of noise on 109 different types of animals. A summary of findings from the studies revealed that human-produced noise affects all groups of animals examined, whether they are mammals, fish, birds, or insects. They also found that there is no difference in the level of response that the different animal groups had toward noise.


The two scientists emphasized that human-produced noise poses a threat to animals’ survival. For instance, for bats, noise pollution can disrupt hunting because they greatly depend on acoustics when looking for food. Another study showed that noise from ships can make seals temporarily deaf. Hearing is very crucial for seals because, like other marine mammals, they use sound to communicate with their kind and find food.


The authors suggested that because of the great impact of human-produced noise on wildlife, it should be considered a serious hazard. They added that the study provides the necessary evidence and information that lawmakers need to create more effective policies for regulating noise. Thus, their call to action is for people and governments to develop strategies and policies that will protect wildlife from further harm caused by noise pollution.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

• Do you think it is possible to completely keep wildlife away from human-made noise? Why or why not?
• Do you think organizations or companies that cause noise pollution (e.g. airlines/ship operators) should be held responsible for the effects of noise on animals? Why or why not?

Discussion B

• Why is it important to study the effects of human activities on animals? Explain.
• Do you think making changes in individual lifestyles can have a huge impact on saving animals (e.g. regulating loud parties)? Discuss.