Noise pollution has been an underlying factor in our lives for years. It’s a product of transportation, technology,
and mechanical interactions with the environment. We’ve grown accustomed to its constant din,
and as a result, tend to hardly notice the impact it has on our local and
environments. Researchers have turned
their attention to a northwestern region of Australia, an area that is active
in its use of oil and coastal construction; an area that is home to more than a
hundred species of sharks and rays.
Previous investigations have found that anthropogenic noise can destroy
sensory tissues in the inner ear and lateral line systems of fish, which can cause
loss of hearing or the ability to detect hydrodynamic changes, which
consequently may lead to death. Noise
pollution does not only bring physical harm to the sharks and rays, but may
mask communication among species or the sound of local prey or predators.
Sharks
are sensitive to the low frequencies that overlap with human-made noise, and
though many sharks are itinerant, most sharks in the northwestern region are
nonmigratory species. As a result, they
will most likely remain in the same area, even in a particularly unfavorable environment. The Neuroecology Group of the UWA Oceans Institute
and School of Animal Biology is conducting research to determine the reactions
of sharks to the several noise frequencies.
This research is important in discovering the extent of the effects of anthropogenic
noise on sharks. With this information,
they can raise awareness of the issue, and hopefully take action to nullify it.
This is very interesting to think about, we usually only think that our pollution affects the creatures on our earth but even the mass amounts of sound we make does as well. Sharks keep the ocean ecosystem alive so taking action on this is very important.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sarah in that action has to be taken to decrease the noise pollution for these animals. Without action, their ecosystem could be greatly effected.
ReplyDeleteI am in the ocean nearly every day and have always been curious about that familiar buzzing sound emanating from the distance. I hope they can find a way to reduce the noise so that these creatures can thrive in their environments without manmade disturbance.
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