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Barrero ACorresponding AuthorLlusia DAuthorTraba JAuthorMorales MbAuthor

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February 3, 2021
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Vocal Response to Traffic Noise in a Non-Passerine Bird: The Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax Vocal Response to Traffic Noise in a Non-Passerine Bird: The Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax

Publicated to:Ardeola-International Journal of Ornithology. 68 (1): 143-162 - 2021-01-01 68(1), DOI: 10.13157/arla.68.1.2021.ra8

Authors: Barrero, Adrian; Llusia, Diego; Traba, Juan; Iglesias-Merchan, Carlos; Morales, Manuel B

Affiliations

CENERIC Research Centre - Author
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid - Author
Universidad Politécnica de Madrid - Author
Universidade Federal de Goiá_rfsti - Author
‎ CENERIC Res Ctr, Tres Cantos, Spain - Author
‎ Univ Autonoma Madrid, Ctr Invest Biodiversidad & Cambio Global CIBC UAM, C Darwin 2, E-28049 Madrid, Spain - Author
‎ Univ Autonoma Madrid, Fac Ciencias, Dept Ecol, Terr Ecol Grp TEG, C Darwin 2, E-28049 Madrid, Spain - Author
‎ Univ Fed Goias, Inst Ciencias Biol, Dept Ecol, Lab Herpetol & Comportamento Anim, Campus Samambaia, BR-74001970 Goiania, Go, Brazil - Author
‎ Univ Politecn Madrid, Escuela Ingn Montes Forestal & Medio Nat, Madrid, Spain - Author
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Abstract

© Anthropogenic noise is spreading worldwide and can interfere with the acoustic communication of multiple animal groups. Species communicating in low-frequency ranges (having large sound production structures) and with limited vocal learning are expected to be especially vulnerable to human noise-induced masking interference. Yet how such species may confront this emerging impact has scarcely been explored. Here we examined the effect of anthropogenic noise on the calling behaviour of a sizeable non-passerine bird, the Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax, across a gradient of road traffic noise and in relation to male position within the lek. Using directional recordings and noise mapping, we determined inter- and intra-individual variation in call parameters and their relationship with noise level and frequency at both spatial and temporal scales, defined respectively as (i) variation of noise according to the position of the calling sites of each male within the lek (spatial scale) and (ii) fine temporal variation of noise experienced by individual males immediately prior to each call (temporal scale). Little Bustard males increased their call rate at sites exposed to higher average noise levels and at those located further from the nearest neighbour within the lek, whereas temporal changes in noise showed no effect on call rate. In contrast, call duration decreased with relative increases in noise level prior to each call, being unaffected by spatial changes in noise. Peak call frequency showed no significant variation over time and among sites. Our findings reveal that, despite its supposedly limited vocal learning, this species seems to exhibit fine-scale vocal adjustment, which implies some capacity to cope with anthropogenic noise. However, the lack of frequency shift suggests behavioural constraints that may compromise communication as the species uses low-pitched calls. This study provides insights into how some non-passerine birds may adjust their vocal sexual display to anthropogenic noise. - Barrero, A., Llusia, D., Traba, J., Iglesias-Merchan, C. & Morales, M.B. (2021). Vocal response to traffic noise in a non-passerine bird: the Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax. Ardeola, 68: 143-162.

Keywords

Lekking behaviourRoad trafficSound maskingSteppe birdsVocal adjustment

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Ardeola-International Journal of Ornithology due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2021, it was in position 8/29, thus managing to position itself as a Q2 (Segundo Cuartil), in the category Ornithology. Notably, the journal is positioned en el Cuartil Q2 para la agencia Scopus (SJR) en la categoría Animal Science and Zoology.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from World Citations provided by WoS (ESI, Clarivate), it yields a value for the citation normalization relative to the expected citation rate of: 2.68. This indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: ESI Nov 14, 2024)

This information is reinforced by other indicators of the same type, which, although dynamic over time and dependent on the set of average global citations at the time of their calculation, consistently position the work at some point among the top 50% most cited in its field:

  • Weighted Average of Normalized Impact by the Scopus agency: 1.37 (source consulted: FECYT Feb 2024)
  • Field Citation Ratio (FCR) from Dimensions: 1.56 (source consulted: Dimensions Jul 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-07-18, the following number of citations:

  • WoS: 7
  • Scopus: 7

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-07-18:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 28.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 34 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 28.3.
  • The number of mentions on the social network Facebook: 2 (Altmetric).
  • The number of mentions on the social network X (formerly Twitter): 31 (Altmetric).

Leadership analysis of institutional authors

This work has been carried out with international collaboration, specifically with researchers from: Brazil.

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (BARRERO DIEGO, ADRIAN) and Last Author (MORALES PRIETO, MANUEL BORJA).

the author responsible for correspondence tasks has been BARRERO DIEGO, ADRIAN.