Impact of Traffic Noise on Tibetan Antelopes: A Case Study on the Qinghai–Tibet Highway in China

The traffic noise on a highway with a non-negligible negative impact on the behavior of wild animals has a great ecological impact on wildlife near the road area. To analyze the impact of traffic noise on Tibetan antelopes, field experiments were carried out to measure the traffic noise intensity and observe the behavior of the Tibetan antelope within 500 m of the Qinghai–Tibet Highway from Kunlun Mountain Pass to Wudaoliang on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, China. A relationship between different levels of traffic noise intensity and the behavior of Tibetan antelope was established by data analysis. Traffic levels were found to have the most significant effect on Tibetan antelope behavior within 150 m of the highway. The changes in the Tibetan antelope behavior before and after changes in noise mainly manifested as decreased foraging and increased movement. The results of this study can guide road construction and engineering measures to protect wildlife on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and other areas with high altitude.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee ADC30 Standing Committee on Ecology and Transportation.
• Authors:
  • Ru, Han
  • Xu, Jinliang
  • Li, Zeqing
  • Fang, Jianhong
  • Xingli, Jia
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 97th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2018-1-7 to 2018-1-11
• Date: 2018

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: 12p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Case studies; Data analysis; Environmental impacts; Roadside fauna; Traffic noise; Wildlife
• Identifier Terms: Qinghai-Tibet Highway
• Geographic Terms: China
• Subject Areas: Environment; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01661463
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 18-04090
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Feb 28 2018 9:23AM