Niche hypothesis

The niche hypothesis, also known as the acoustic niche hypothesis (ANH),[1] is an early version of the term biophony. The term describes the acoustic bandwidth partitioning process that occurs in still-wild biomes by which non-human organisms adjust their vocalizations by frequency and time-shifting to compensate for vocal territory occupied by other vocal creatures. Thus, each species evolves to establish and maintain its own acoustic bandwidth so that its voice is not masked. For instance, notable examples of clear partitioning and species discrimination can be found in the spectrograms derived from the biophonic recordings made in most uncompromised tropical and subtropical rain forests. Additional studies with certain insects and amphibians tend to confirm the hypothesis.[2][3]

The term was first coined by soundscape ecology early practitioner, Bernie Krause.

References

  1. Eric Stonea (2000), "Separating the Noise from the Noise: A Finding in Support of the 'Niche Hypothesis,' That Birds are Influenced by Human-Induced Noise in Natural Habitats" Anthroös, Vol 13, Issue 4, pgs 225-231
  2. Luis J. Villanueva-Rivera (2014)." Eleutherodactylus frogs show frequency but no temporal partitioning: implications for the acoustic niche hypothesis," Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
  3. Jerome Sueur (2001). "Cicada acoustic communication: potential sound partitioning in a multispecies community from Mexico (Hemiptera: Cicadomorpha: Cicadidae)," Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2002, 75, 379–394. France.
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