Impacts of Traffic Noise and Traffic Volume on Birds of Roadside Habitats

摘要: Roadside habitats are important for a range of taxa including plants, insects, mammals, and birds, particularly in developed countries which large expanses native vegetation have been cleared agriculture or urban development. Although roadside may provide suitable habitat many species, resident animals can be exposed to high levels traffic noise, visual disturbance from passing vehicles, the risk collision with cars trucks. Traffic noise reduce distance over acoustic signals such as song detected, an effect known interference masking. Studies northern hemisphere show that singing behavior birds changes presence noise. We investigated impact volume on two species Grey Shrike-thrush (Colluricincla harmonica) Fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa), at 58 sites Mornington Peninsula, southeastern Australia. The lower sang higher frequency predicted increase dominant 5.8 Hz/dB total size 209 Hz. In contrast, did not appear change its probability detecting each visit site declined substantially increasing volume, several lines evidence supporting larger could hamper detection by conspecifics, making it more difficult establish maintain territories, attract mates pair bonds, possibly leading reduced breeding success noisy habitats. Closing key roads during season is potential, but untested, management strategy protect threatened bird vehicles time year when they most vulnerable their impacts. Other options include reducing speed and/or acceptably low level. Ours first study investigate southern hemisphere. © 2009 author(s).