Questions of how and why animals settle in and use particular environments are fundamental to understanding the structure of natural communities. Researchers from the Barber Lab at Boise State University propose that natural sounds serve as strong forces shaping the distribution of animals and the structure of, and interactions within, communities. To test this idea, they are using observational and manipulative approaches in a field effort where individual field sites will be characterized by high sound levels from moving water (creeks), low natural sound levels and via large-scale playback experiments of natural sounds (replicated river noise).

One of Dr. Barber’s recent PhD graduates, Dylan Gomes, recently wrote an article about an adjacent study. Check it out here!