Yes, Fred. I am just in the process of authoring a new book on
precisely that subject. Turns out that signature natural soundscapes
(biophony) may well be encoded in critter DNA. Because biophonies
represent forms of correlated sound -- as opposed to random noise
sources of many types -- different creatures, human and non-human,
tend to gravitate to acoustic territory that most closely fits those
genetic expectations.
About 20 years ago, a sound designer created a program that was
installed in a Southern California lowland gorilla exhibit. He charged
over $300kUSD and installed what he had falsely assured the zoo
exhibit people were sounds from typical gorilla habitats. This zoo
happens to be not far from a major airport and busy highway -- sounds
that never seemed to cause obvious stress behaviour prior to the
installation. However, the instant the sound designer's sounds were
introduced, the gorillas went nuts -- beating on each other and
exhibiting behaviour that the zoo-keepers had never before seen. As
soon as the sound in the newly installed system was turned down to a
level nearly inaudible, the errant behaviour ceased. There are lots of
impact examples of stress level increases in either related hormones
or actual aversion or errant behaviour.
Bernie Krause
On Jun 4, 2009, at 7:28 AM, Fred Rowley wrote:
>
>
> Hi Jeff and Martyn,
> what a great video, and important message. You can't help but grieve
> over the loss of habitat and natural soundscapes that have been
> replaced by aircraft, car, snowmobile and other noise. It's tragic
> we weren't all recording natural sounds (Martyn excluded of course)
> 20 years ago. You're doing really important stuff, Jeff. Keep up the
> good work!!
>
> Just reading last night (The Brain that Changes Itself -- Doidge)
> about the critical development phase that babies' and children's
> brains make during which the brain is switched on for full neural
> development and high-intensity learning. They're finding that white
> noise causes many more receptors to fire than should, sending these
> new brains into overdrive, but nevertheless unable to differentiate
> sounds. Normally, the brain shuts off the high-intensity learning
> mode as the kid gets older, but white noise can cause the brain to
> shut it down prematurely before the brain has figured out how to
> process sensory inputs properly.
>
> There's increasing evidence to suggest that growing up in a white
> noise world can cause kids to be hypersensitive to sound and touch,
> less able to focus attention, less able to interpret the sensory
> inputs their brains receive -- resulting in learning disabililities,
> ADD, speech problems, and autism. What do you suppose the impact is
> on critters?
>
> Fred
>
> ________________________________
> From: Jeff Rice <>
> To:
> Cc: Nature Recordist Group Group
> <>;
> Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2009 9:37:07 PM
> Subject: [larynxandsyrinx] Re: [Naturerecording] Jeff Rice and
> natural sound
>
> Hey Martyn! My sincere thanks to all the folks such as yourself who
> have helped with the project. That's what it's all about. I'm just
> trying to create some scaffolding onto which others can build. And a
> big shout out and thanks to Kevin Colver too. He's been huge in all
> this and deserves a lot of credit for the project's success.
>
> Jeff
>
> On May 23, 2009, at 7:44 AM, Martyn Stewart wrote:
>
> http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=vueZOquE4qc
>
> I found this short video on Utube with our very own Jeff Rice.
> Great message, Jeff and great work you do....
>
> Martyn
> ************ ********* ********* *******
> Martyn Stewart
> http://www.naturesound.org
>
> Redmond WA
> 425-898-0462
>
> 47.65420118705451
> -121.98158740997314
>
> Make every garden a wildlife habitat
> ************ ********* ********* ********
> Listen to the Birds and the Bees at
> http://naturesound. libsyn.org/
> ------------ --------- --------- --------- ---------
> View a Nature Recordists Blog!
>
> http://naturesound. org/nature/ Blog/Blog. html
>
> http://naturesound. org/nature/ this_weeks_ recordings/ this_weeks_
> recordings. html
>
> P please consider the environment before printing this email
>
>
>
>
>
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