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Contributed Talk

Session: : Communities: Disturbance And Recovery 8

COS 166-3 - Experimental field trials for multi-species responses to anthropogenic light and noise

Wednesday, August 9, 2023
10:30 AM – 10:45 AM PDT
Location: B113
Abstract: Artificial light and noise create disturbance sources that drive a wide range of wildlife behavioral changes in human-modified systems. Understanding how these changes compare across taxa is important for predicting community-level impacts. Field experiments provide a powerful tool to explore causal relationships between disturbance sources and wildlife responses across a wide range of species. Outdoor, mixed light, and greenhouse cannabis production present a particular concern for environmental impacts because of their use of bright lights and loud equipment, and history of production in biodiverse areas. The goal of this study is to assess multi-taxa wildlife response to light and noise disturbance in experimental field trials that mimic disturbance from cannabis farms. We used a combination of cameras, audio recorders, and intercept traps to monitor medium-large mammals, small mammals, reptiles, birds, bats, and flying insects in a modified before-after-control field installation in Mendocino County, California. Our modeling results indicate varied taxa- and species-level spatial and temporal responses, mostly at close distance thresholds to treatment sources (< 50 m). This research indicates potential for fine-scale community disruptions due to opposing attraction and avoidance responses. The methodology presented may be broadly applicable to quantify relationships and response thresholds to human disturbance across a breadth of taxonomic groups.