Earth Talk: 'Soundscape ecology'

Dear EarthTalk: How does "soundscape ecology" help the environment?

-- L.M., via email

Answer: A vast web of species, including humans, connect ecosystems across the globe. Understanding the interactions that animals have with their environments reveals that sound is key to that connection.

Soundscapes are the combination of all natural and man-made sounds within an environment. Three major sound types contribute to a soundscape: sounds generated by organisms, non-living natural sounds (like from sunlight, water, soil, air and temperature), and sounds from humans or human-made technology. They are referred to as biophony, geophony, and anthropophony respectively.

The study of bioacoustics has shown how vital soundscapes are for inter- and intra-species interactions. The primary disruptor of natural soundscapes is anthropophony, or noise pollution. Noise pollution impacts species behaviors and can cause habitat fragmentation. Due to different levels of tolerance for acoustic disturbance, a habitat may be inaccessible to animals even if it appears intact, due to noise infiltration. Noise pollution also affects humans. According to UCLA Health, chronic exposure to high decibels is linked to an increase in stress hormones, risk of heart disease and cognitive impairment.

Silence is not the solution, but instead we must embrace and recapture natural soundscapes. Whether improving the environment for sensitive species or human wellbeing, natural soundscapes achieve meaningful goals.

You can start by actively engaging with local planning processes, like attending annual master plan meetings. This is a great way to advocate for a step toward soundscape harmony and away from noise pollution.

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EarthTalk is produced by Roddy Scheer & Doug Moss for the 501(c)3 nonprofit EarthTalk.

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This story was originally published June 16, 2026 at 5:10 AM.