Traffic noise exposure depresses plasma corticosterone and delays offspring growth in breeding zebra finches

摘要: The impact of human activity on the acoustic environment is overwhelming, with anthropogenic noise reaching even remote areas planet. World Health Organization has identified pollution as one leading environmental health risks in humans, and it been linked to a myriad short- long-term effects exposed individuals. However, less known about exposure animals. We investigated long- short-term traffic zebra finches breeding small communal aviaries, using repeated measures design. Birds bred both no-noise conditions, we measured baseline plasma glucocorticoid levels before, during after breeding. In addition, assayed immune function, reproductive success offspring growth compared rates extra-pair paternity adults. Breeding birds had significantly lower corticosterone when than they were not playback. nestlings reared lighter same parents control conditions. Our results suggest that poses more severe hurdle at vulnerable stages their life history, such events ontogeny. While chronic our did not, by itself, prove be sufficient stressor cause acute or individuals, result disruptions normal profiles delayed growth. animals living urban habitats are multitude disturbances, likely species appear thriving noisy environments may suffer cumulative these multiple disturbances together fitness environments.