In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of

Master of Science in Biology
in the
School of Biological Sciences

Louis Walls

Will defend his thesis

“Exploring the role of Urban Noise Pollution on Urban Vertebrate Presence”

18, April 2025
9:30 AM
Cherry Emerson 204
https://gatech.zoom.us/j/96679650274

Thesis Advisor:
Dr. Lin Jiang
School of Biological Sciences
Georgia Institute of Technology

Committee Members:
Dr. Emily Weigel
School of Biological Sciences
Georgia Institute of Technology

Dr. Patrick Kastner
School of Architecture
Georgia Institute of Technology

Abstract:
Vocal signals are a vital form of communication for many animals. Birds in particular rely on vocalizations for mating, territory defense, and predator alerts. Many mammals also rely on vocal signals for predator avoidance by either having their own alarm or by listening to other species alarms. However, urban noise pollution can threaten these urban animals as it drowns out important auditory signals. Despite this, the results of past studies on the significance of urban noise pollution on urban animals compared to other urban pressures are inconsistent.
               This project aims to clarify the role of noise pollution on the presence of urban birds and mammals by studying Georgia Tech’s biodiverse campus. Ambient sound levels were recorded at set points across a section of Georgia Tech’s campus at multiple times of day and over several weeks from mid-October 2024 to early March 2025 using AudioMoths. Observations of urban organisms across the study area were matched to sound levels by mapping them onto background maps that were generated using Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) interpolation based on the sound levels recorded during that observation.
               Through comparing the sound levels that organism observations were made at to sound levels across the entire study area, the results show a significant clustering of urban animals at areas with a lower sound level. Further analysis based on time period and area characteristics provides insight into how urban sound levels and their impact vary over time and space. Understanding the full impact of noise pollution on urban animals allows us to plan future urban development around the biggest pressures for urban animals and hopefully lead to an expansion of urban biodiversity.