Sierra Nevada Network

 

Listening to the Land: Soundscape research reveals unique resource worth protecting

The distant call of a great horned owl,

the thundering of a waterfall,

the cry of a far off coyote,

the wind singing through the pines

Forest primeval. Can both ecosystem and soundscape be preserved? Photo© by Stephan Hayden

Natural sounds and natural quiet are a valued resource at Devils Postpile National Monument. They are just as important as the native plant and animal communities and unique geological formations in the area.

Natural sounds and natural quiet comprise part of a park’s soundscape. The term soundscape refers to the total acoustic environment in a particular area, including sounds people experience. This consists of both natural and human-caused sounds. The natural soundscape is managed as a park resource with a truly unique and inherent value, and as an important element of the National Park experience. As you explore Devils Postpile, take some time to listen to and enjoy the Monument’s unique soundscape.

The Organic Act of 1916 states that National Parks were established “to conserve the scenery, the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.” The soundscape of a National Park, like water, scenery, or wildlife, is a valuable resource that can easily be degraded or destroyed by inappropriate sounds. As a result, soundscapes require careful management if they are to survive unspoiled for years to come.

So how do non-natural sounds affect Devils Postpile National Monument? Airplanes, cars, buses, boom boxes, car alarms, park operations, motorized equipment, and vehicles all create noise that may compromise a visitor’s experience. These sounds carry easily, and can be heard a fair distance away.

Aircraft noise may compromise a park's soundscape.

Inappropriate soundscapes also affect the wildlife community. For example, studies have shown that songbirds that live in noisy places must sing louder than areas that are quieter. Birds forced to sing at a higher volume have to expend increased levels of precious energy to attract a mate or warn of predators. Acoustic ecology is an emerging science, and we are just beginning to understand that the acoustic niche of many wildlife species’ vocalizations have an interconnected relation to each other. Think of it as the “orchestra of nature.”

As visitation to parks has increased dramatically in the past 25 years, the effects of noise and the significance of natural soundscape have become more apparent. Between 2005 and 2006, the National Park Service conducted acoustic monitoring within the Monument to determine the nature of its soundscape. The results from the study will provide park managers with information to better manage Devils Postpile’s soundscape, as well as ensure these important resources are left “unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.”

Read more about the NPS Natural Sounds Program or see Soundscapes at Sierra Nature Notes.

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