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Soundscape Ecology

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Abstract

Soundscape ecology finds several important applications in the field of valuing and assessment of natural and protected areas and of urban spaces as well.

Noise intrusion appears a growing threat to the maintenance of a high level of biological and ecological complexity. In particular, noise of anthropogenic origin masks or degrades the acoustic signals between individuals and species. Habitat loss and isolation, land use transformation, chemical pollution, hunting activity, and tourism intrusion are concurrent factors responsible for dramatic modification of the sonic environment.

Acoustic communication is the most powerful semiotic process with which organisms exchange information. Every phenomenon that reduces acoustic communication can have severe consequences on the survival of many vocal species.

Acoustics coupled with other data can produce a very efficient tool to try to respond to questions pertaining to the effects of global warming, the changes in land use, and the effect of agriculture practices on natural systems or on pest spread.

Long-term monitoring of the sonic environment appears a new and promising approach to understand the dynamics of natural and human-modified systems and represents an important tool to create efficient practices to protect and preserve valuable areas.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Basic Sciences and Foundations, Urbino University, Urbino, Pesaro-Urbino, Italy

    Almo Farina

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  1. Almo Farina
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Farina, A. (2014). Applications. In: Soundscape Ecology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7374-5_10

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