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Sonic Characteristics of the Landscape

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Soundscape Ecology
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Abstract

The sonic characters of the landscape are important to better understand animal communication in a perspective of biodiversity conservation and to guide sustainable actions to achieve the well-being of humanity.

Weather conditions and climatic context in general have a great influence on the sonic environment, affecting the sound activity of vocal species. Wind depresses biophonies but on the other hand is a source of important information on atmospheric turbulence.

Most of the vocal species experience direct effects from changes in climatic and weather conditions, confirming the importance of the sonic ambience as an indicator of ecosystem modifications.

The structure of vegetation and its density are important drivers of sonic propagation. Vegetation interferes with sonic energy for effects of reverberation, absorption, and scattering.

In a forested landscape, sound propagation is strongly affected by ground effect, by the scattering from tree trunks and branches, and by absorption by leaves.

Wind-generated noise and animal-borne sounds are differently distributed when core and edge areas are compared.

The sonic characters of the landscape are important for better understanding of animal communication in a perspective of biodiversity conservation and to guide sustainable actions to achieve the well-being of humanity.

Weather conditions and climatic context in general have a great influence on the sonic environment, affecting the sound activity of vocal species. Wind depresses biophonies but on the other hand is a source of important information on atmospheric turbulence.

Most vocal species experience direct effects by changes in climatic and weather conditions, confirming the importance of the sonic ambience as an indicator of ecosystem modifications.

The structure of vegetation and its density are important drivers of sonic propagation. Vegetation interferes with sonic energy by effects of reverberation, absorption, and scattering.

In a forested landscape, sound propagation is strongly affected by ground effect, by scattering from tree trunks and branches and by absorption by leaves.

Wind-generated noise and animal-borne sounds are differently distributed when core and edge areas are compared.

The jungle environment represents a more spectacular example of sonic environment at the highest acoustic diversity. The dense vegetation, the complexity of the vertical layers of vegetation, high humidity, and the lack of wind create a unique system to which vocalizing species have been adapted for a long time.

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Farina, A. (2014). Sonic Characteristics of the Landscape. In: Soundscape Ecology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7374-5_2

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