Traffic May Interfere With Frog Mating
Rumbling trucks may be cock-blocking city frogs! In ponds across Australia, it seems that frogs can't "attract the ladies" because of loud noise from nearby highways, according to a new report by Melbourne University ecologist Kirsten Parris.
Parris has been studying the lives of frogs in urban Australia since 2000. During this time period, the number of frogs has declined. She hypothesizes that male frogs, who attract a mate by having the most appealing "croak", are having a hard time being heard over the sound of city traffic. The result? Fewer mates, and fewer offspring.
Why do we care? Because animals having sex is fascinating! Have you seen Isabella Rossellini's Green Porno on the Sundance Channel? Besides being artistically clever, totally hilarious and starring the divine Ms. Rossellini, the 60 second clips are riveting because they're about s-e-x.
Well, there is another reason to care, at least in the case of the frogs. Because they are so sensitive to the environment, frogs are considered an indicator species for ecological health issues. Usually we're worried about them having too many eyes, or not enough legs, or other birth defects because of fertilizers poisoning their immune systems, or creating genetic havoc.
In this case, we're seeing that noise pollution, created by us, can also influence whether or not a species thrives and survives. Most scientists agree that noise pollution also has a negative impact on whales, including mating activity, and is blamed by some for dolphin and whale beachings.
Solution? Quieter engines, of course. As in, those silent hybrid or electric engines. Little known fact*: The original Prius campaign slogan was "So quiet you can hear animals having sex."
Yup, one more reason for us hybrid owners to feel proud. Supporting frog sex on a daily basis. You're welcome, Kermit.
*By fact we mean one of the original ideas. That we had. Probably Prius did not.
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