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Effects of Off-Road Vehicle Noise on Desert Vertebrates

  • Chapter
Environmental Effects of Off-Road Vehicles

Part of the book series: Springer Series on Environmental Management ((SSEM))

Abstract

With the increase in the human population in Southern California and the concomitant increase in the use of open spaces for recreation, it has become clear that the activities of off-road vehicles (ORVs) are causing considerable damage to the California deserts. Associated with this use is the spread of high-intensity sounds into formerly quiet desert regions, which suggest that these sounds might have severe impacts on the wildlife in the desert. Some initial studies done before and after motorcycle races indicated increases in the aggressive behavior of kangaroo rats (Dipodomys sp.) after a race passing through an area and the observation that many of the Dipodomys had bloody ears following the race. Following this, Bondello (1976) showed that excessive off-road motorcycle sounds (115 dB A) could damage the acoustical sensitivity of desert iguanas (Dipsosaurus dorsalis).

The views and conclusions contained in this chapter are based on the authors’ studies or experiences and do not necessarily reflect the official viewpoint or policy of any U.S. government agency.

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Authors
  1. Bayard H. Brattstrom
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  2. Michael C. Bondello
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, 85721, USA

    Robert H. Webb

  2. U.S. Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, California, 94025, USA

    Howard G. Wilshire

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© 1983 Srpinger-Verlag New York Inc.

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Brattstrom, B.H., Bondello, M.C. (1983). Effects of Off-Road Vehicle Noise on Desert Vertebrates. In: Webb, R.H., Wilshire, H.G. (eds) Environmental Effects of Off-Road Vehicles. Springer Series on Environmental Management. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-5454-6_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-5454-6_9

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-5456-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-5454-6

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