PROCEEDING WITH SOUND JUDGMENT: APPLIED SENSORY BIOLOGY AND WILDERNESS CHARACTER

Author

Julia Natalie Dunfey DaniellFollow

Year of Award

2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

Master of Science (MS)

Degree Name

Parks, Tourism and Recreation Management

Department or School/College

W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation

Committee Chair

Dr. Will Rice

Commitee Members

Dr. Katherine Zeller Dr. Martin Nie Dr. Erin Semmens

Keywords

Wildlife, soundscape, Wyoming, recreation, wilderness

Subject Categories

Behavior and Ethology

Abstract

Anthropogenic sound has expanded rapidly across natural landscapes, with outdoor recreation emerging as a major and growing source of noise on public lands. Despite increasing recognition that noise pollution can affect wildlife behavior, distribution, and ecosystem functioning, the auditory impacts of recreation are rarely studied independently from other forms of human disturbance. This gap limits the ability of land managers to predict wildlife responses and to balance biodiversity conservation with recreational access. This thesis addresses these challenges by experimentally isolating recreation-related sounds to evaluate their effects on large mammals and by developing practical indicators for managing and conserving natural soundscapes.

Building on prior work in the Bridger-Teton National Forest (Wyoming, USA), this research employed a controlled field experiment across twelve sites during peak recreation seasons (2024–2025). Motion-triggered cameras and scheduled auditory playback systems were used to broadcast natural sounds (control), non-motorized recreation sounds (hikers and cyclists), and motorized recreation sounds (ATVs) at varying exposure rates. By isolating sound from other recreational stimuli, the study assessed whether repeated exposure led to habituation, and whether responses differed by recreation type and playback frequency. Wildlife responses were evaluated through changes in relative abundance and activity patterns.

In addition to the empirical investigation, this thesis develops a suite of soundscape indicators—such as noise-free intervals, sound exceedance levels, wildlife presence deviation, and spatial recreation metrics—to support long-term monitoring and adaptive management of acoustic environments in wildlands and wilderness areas. Together, these contributions advance understanding of recreation-driven sensory pollution, clarify the role of habituation in wildlife responses to repeated sound exposure, and provide actionable tools for land managers seeking to preserve ecological integrity and visitor experiences in increasingly noisy natural landscapes.

Recommended Citation

Daniell, Julia Natalie Dunfey, "PROCEEDING WITH SOUND JUDGMENT: APPLIED SENSORY BIOLOGY AND WILDERNESS CHARACTER" (2025). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 12605.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/12605