Traffic noise causes physiological stress and impairs breeding migration behaviour in frogs

• Published in: Conservation Physiology Vol. 2; no. 1; p. cou032
• Main Authors: Tennessen, Jennifer B., Parks, Susan E., Langkilde, Tracy
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Oxford University Press 01.01.2014
• Subjects: noise; stress; frog; Corticosterone; mate attraction
• ISSN: 2051-1434; 2051-1434
• DOI: 10.1093/conphys/cou032

Noise from human activities is increasing globally. We provide evidence that traffic noise increases glucocorticoid concentrations and impairs reproductive behavior in frogs. Since prolonged stress can compromise health, survival and reproduction, and because impaired reproductive behavior can reduce mating opportunities, these results suggest noise may contribute to amphibian declines. Human-generated noise has profoundly changed natural soundscapes in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, imposing novel pressures on ecological processes. Despite interest in identifying the ecological consequences of these altered soundscapes, little is known about the sublethal impacts on wildlife population health and individual fitness. We present evidence that noise induces a physiological stress response in an amphibian and impairs mate attraction in the natural environment. Traffic noise increased levels of a stress-relevant glucocorticoid hormone (corticosterone) in female wood frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus) and impaired female travel towards a male breeding chorus in the field, providing insight into the sublethal consequences of acoustic habitat loss. Given that prolonged elevated levels of corticosterone can have deleterious consequences on survival and reproduction and that impaired mate attraction can impact population persistence, our results suggest a novel pathway by which human activities may be imposing population-level impacts on globally declining amphibians.