Jason Gerbsch                                                             Approximately 200 words

jg33@geneseo.edu

INTD 105: Scientific Writing

In her article “Whisper of the Wild,” Kim Tingley joins Davyd Betchkal, a sound catcher, in Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska.  Davyd’s goal is to collect, record, and interpret data on an endangered and highly important resource, natural sound.  Human noise pollution has expanded more and more over time, disrupting and even overpowering the ambiance of nature.  In doing so, we have altered the balance of ecosystems and even the course of evolution, as those species who cannot adapt to the intrusion of artificial noise will struggle to survive and even die out.

This article brings up a rather crucial topic that does not seem to get the attention it deserves.  We may not think that the sounds of civilization affect the natural environment in the ways that oil spills or illegal dumping of sewage or chemicals do because the effects of noise pollution on nature aren’t immediately noticeable.  However, according to Betchkal, our interference with the sound of the Earth is very detrimental; disrupting ecosystems, altering the course of evolution, even throwing off the balance of survival by causing predators and prey not being able to hear the other, for example.