Almost all species rely on their sense of hearing to survive. Great grey owls have some of the most sensitive ears in the animal kingdom. Researchers have confirmed by experiment that these owls pinpoint the exact position of their prey in three dimensions based almost purely on sound. They have evolved soft enough feathers to mute the sound of their flight. Whales have extraordinary hearing too, communicating over thousands of miles, sharing complex messages called codas. Researchers at the Earth Species Project (ESP) and Cetacean Translation Initiative (CETI) are currently using the latest AI and machine learning technologies to translate this whale language.
Often the ways humans affect ecosystems is clear, but noise pollution can sometimes be overlooked. National Geographic defines noise pollution as any unwanted or disturbing sound that affects the health and well-being of humans and other organisms. It leaves birds confused, and whales scared. Researchers have shown noise pollution significantly reduces the ability of young birds to learn calls and navigate. It also greatly increases the amount of stress hormone present in whale faeces. You can listen for yourself to the sound of whales and the noisy passing ships recorded by undersea hydrophones at the sounds of the earth (DIAS) website.
Noise pollution also affects human life. The UK government estimated that the annual social cost of urban road noise in England is £7 billion to £10 billion. This places it at similar magnitude to road accidents (£9 billion). A way to combat noise pollution is through engineering. Electric cars and buses are beginning to revolutionise our transport system, not only reducing air pollution but also reducing noise pollution.