Beyond masking: Endangered Stephen’s kangaroo rats respond to traffic noise with footdrumming

Abstract

...Because many species rely on low-frequency signals to communicate with conspecifics, they are likely to be especially vulnerable to signal masking and the concomitant biological effects associated with exposure to traffic noise. Here, we show that the spectral characteristics of traffic noise overlap extensively with footdrumming signals of the endangered Stephens’ kangaroo rat (Dipodomys stephensi; SKR)....