A recent article, co-authored by NParks and published in People and Nature, dives into how people experience biodiversity using visual and auditory stimuli. Research was carried out by an interdisciplinary team of scientists under the direction of historian Kevin Rozario and Prof. Dr. Aletta Bonn. They recruited two sets of 48 participants to study either photographic or sonified forest environments—each depicting scenes with contrasting biodiversity levels. The results highlight how both vision and hearing are profoundly powerful in the framing of ecological diversity.
Participants took part in a lab-based sorting activity, sorting photos or audio clips of different species based on the level of biodiversity they represent. The findings indicate that participants successfully evaluated forest biodiversity using both methods. They showed more accuracy when judging it by way of sound only.
Methodology of the Study
The study was a carefully designed experimental judgment study to test the use of visual and auditory information to impact perceptions of biodiversity. The researchers randomly assigned the participants to either an experimental or control group. While one group analyzed a set of photos, the other experienced a set of audio recordings. These materials all came from forests that had been managed to reduce biodiversity.
Kevin Rozario, the study’s co-lead author, was clear about the critical need for participants to be able to recognize changes in forest biodiversity. They accomplished this beautifully through both types of modalities.
“Participants were able to perceive differences in forest biodiversity as they compared and sorted either photographs or audio recordings,” – Kevin Rozario
This lab-based sorting approach provided the unique opportunity for researchers to learn about the criteria that participants used in making their judgments. This controlled setting allowed for a more detailed investigation into how varied sensory stimuli affected perceptions of ecological wealth.
Insights on Visual and Auditory Perception
What this study’s findings show is that our view of forest biodiversity is based on a lot of different foundational elements. These factors are forest density, structure, light conditions, and colors. Rozario went into greater detail about the way these visual elements play on the human eye.
“Our results suggest that forest biodiversity perceived through the eyes probably depends on variations in forest density and structure, light conditions and colors,” – Kevin Rozario
We can assess biodiversity by looking at the tuneful nature of birdsongs. We want to think about physical traits—loudness too, seasonal characteristics. This study’s nuanced understanding of how both sight and sound contribute to biodiversity perception offers powerful implications for conservation efforts.
Implications for Urban Environments
Our cities are going through an unprecedented urban transformation. So it’s important that we develop spaces that are abundant in both visual and acoustic biodiversity. Prof. Dr. Aletta Bonn heads the Biodiversity and People research group at UFZ, iDiv and Friedrich Schiller University Jena. In her opening remarks, she underscored the importance of these findings.
“As cities grow and natural spaces evolve, designing urban environments rich in both visual and acoustic biodiversity could enhance human connections to nature, supporting both conservation and well-being,” – Prof Dr. Aletta Bonn
The research suggests that fostering urban spaces that accommodate both visual and acoustic aspects of biodiversity may enhance community engagement with nature. We believe this approach would ultimately serve both conservation efforts and public health well.