TY - JOUR AU - Berger-Tal, Oded AU - Wong, Bob B. M. AU - Candolin, Ulrika AU - Barber, Jesse PY - 2019 DA - 2019/06/13 TI - What evidence exists on the effects of anthropogenic noise on acoustic communication in animals? A systematic map protocol JO - Environmental Evidence SP - 18 VL - 8 IS - 1 AB - Noise pollution is an intense, widespread anthropogenic disturbance that can have highly detrimental impacts on natural populations, communities, and ecosystems across the globe. One major way through which noise can affect wildlife is by masking acoustic signals that animals rely on and, in doing so, hindering inter- and intraspecific communication among individuals. In response, many animals change their vocal behavior in an attempt to overcome the signal- and cue-masking effects of noisy environments. This can be done by changing the amplitude of the vocal output, shifting its frequency, or changing its temporal structure. However, to date, we still know very little about the ecological contexts of signal modifications in animals or their fitness consequences. We present a protocol for a systematic map aiming to collect and characterize all research done on animals’ signal modification in response to anthropogenic noise. The map will increase our understanding of the consequences of noise pollution on animal communication and may guide the development of new mitigation tools to alleviate any negative effects. The map will also allow us to identify gaps in the literature and highlight possible future research areas. SN - 2047-2382 UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/s13750-019-0165-3 DO - 10.1186/s13750-019-0165-3 ID - Berger-Tal2019 ER -