Which animals suffer noise pollution?

The marine environment has enjoyed corona-quiet oceans, as COVID-19 brought the human world to a standstill. A reduction in shipping and boat traffic is making for quieter seas while less road traffic is benefitting the terrestrial environment, too. It’s as if the noisy neighbours from hell have decided to give it a rest and the animal kingdom is enjoying the relative peace and quiet.

Recent research, published just months before the coronavirus outbreak, found that the impact of noise pollution echoes through all animal phyla. From amphibians, birds, fish and mammals to reptiles, arthropods and molluscs, there is very little variation between these different animal groups in their sensitivity to anthropogenic (humanmade) sound. Rather than viewing noise pollution as a problem for the hypersensitive few – such as bats and whales – we should see it as a challenge for the majority of species.

Changing their tune: male grasshoppers adjust the pitch of their song so females can hear them above the urban din.