A recent study indicates new challenges for conservation as demographic growth brings humans and animals to the Galapagos islands.
If the traffic irritates it or puts it aggressive, it is not the only one. New research have revealed that birds of The Galapagos suffer the “Rage Road” Induced by man, highlighting the hidden impact of noise pollution following the increasingly narrow contact, human beings with wildlife and flora.
According to a study published in ‘Animal behavior ‘, Male curruca Galapagos yellow, a singing bird that lives in the archipelago located about 800 kilometers from Ecuador, living near very busy streets, react with greater aggression to the noise of traffic.
What rhythm does Galapagos grow?
From Charles Darwin Developed his theory of human evolution after a trip to the islands in 1835, the Galapagos have been considered a Sanctuary for wild life. But the enormous increase in human communities has since lered its mark on the native species.
The permanent population passed by only 2,000 inhabitants in the 1960s to about 32,000 today. And continues to grow by 6% every year. Also, more than 200,000 tourists They visit every year The archipelago. This growing human presence made it More vehicles on the roads. But so far it was not clear how the noise of traffic has influenced the animals of the islands.
How does the noise of traffic affects birds?
The research team of the University of Anglia Ruskin (ARU) and the Konrad Lorenz Research Center of the University of Vienna conducted his study Observing 38 males of Rabilarga Curuca In the islands of Santa Cruz and Floreana. About half was less than 50 meters from the nearest road. The other half was more than 100 meters.
The researchers They used speakers To reproduce two soundtracks recorded on different days. One song by another male by Curruca Rabilarga, a sound that simulated an intruder, while the other also contained Traffic sounds. So, they recorded how birds reacted to noise.
The birds that lived closest to the streets behaved more aggressively, launch themselves on the speaker and made repeated flights, a maneuver that could mean that the birds were preparing for a combatsays the research team.
“Our results show that the change in the aggressive responses of Yellow Currucas It occurred mainly near the roads“Said Caglar Akcay, co -author of the study and professor of ecology of behavior at Au, in a press release accompanied by the study.
“We also find some evidence of the fact that birds try to manage the noise by regulating their song, with yellow currucas in all habitats that increase the minimum frequency of their songs for Help them listen to them above noise traffic “.
What does this mean for conservation efforts?
The Galapagos islands are famous for theirs BiodiversityBut human activity is increasingly concerned the unique species that live in them. Understanding these changes in behavior is crucial for conservation strategies all over the world, since population growth pushes humans and animals to a growing conflict.
If noise pollution forces birds to face more physically, it may have an impact on their populations and ecosystem In general, in which people also participate. “Our study demonstrates the importance of development Strategies to mitigate the effects of noise pollution on fauna“Akcay says he adds:” He also underlines the important impact of human activities on the behavior of the fauna, even in relatively remote places such as the Galapagos islands. “
