Authors: Lehnardt, Yael; Murali, Gopal;Roll, Uri;Berger-Tal, Oded;

Roads have many environmental impacts, but the consequences of road traffic noise are underappreciated, despite studies showing that traffic noise has substantial negative impacts on wildlife. By reviewing existing literature, we explored the impact ranges of traffic noise on different animal behaviors. We then used these ranges to quantify and map the impact of traffic noise on wildlife in non-urban environments in Israel, with an emphasis on sensitive habitats and nature reserves.
Within 200m from roads, noise affect hunting efficiency, communication and habitat selection. Over a third of the natural and open areas in Israel are exposed to noise effects in this range, a high value compared to other countries. In addition, about a quarter of the protected areas are within this range. A range of 1,500m from roads, where most of the impact on habitat selection in birds is expected, represents 76% of the open areas in Israel and 63% of the protected areas.
Consequently, for many species, the non-urban and protected areas in Israel are not a safe refuge from the deleterious effects of roads. Our review on the negative effects of noise pollution on animal behavior can be used in other countries to improve conservation efforts.