Not just for the birds: Human-made noise has ripple effects on plants, too
Tuesday, March 20, 2012 - 22:30
in Biology & Nature
A growing body of research shows that animals change their behavior in response to human-made noise. But human clamor doesn't just affect animals. Because many animals also pollinate plants or eat or disperse their seeds, human noise can have ripple effects on plants too, finds a new study. In cases where noise has ripple effects on long-lived plants like trees, the consequences could last long after the source of the noise goes away, researchers say.