Anthropogenic noise pollution and wildlife diseases

There is a global rise in anthropogenic noise and a growing awareness of its negative effects on wildlife, but to date the consequences for wildlife diseases have received little attention. In this paper, we discuss how anthropogenic noise can affect the occurrence and severity of infectious wildlife diseases. We argue that there is potential for noise impacts at three main stages of pathogen transmission and disease development: (i) the probability of preinfection exposure, (ii) infection upon exposure, and (iii) severity of postinfection conse-quences. We identify potential repercussions of noise pollution effects for wildlife populations and call for intensifying research efforts. We provide an overview of knowledge gaps and outline avenues for future studies into noise impacts on wildlife diseases.

Automated summary

There is a growing concern about the global increase in anthropogenic noise and its negative effects on wildlife. However, the impact of noise on wildlife diseases has received little attention. This paper discusses how anthropogenic noise can influence the occurrence and severity of infectious wildlife diseases. The authors highlight potential repercussions and call for further research to fill the knowledge gaps.