Sensory interference shapes habitat suitability for an acoustically specialized predator

Abstract

Abstract Ambient acoustic conditions shape how animals perceive and interact with their environments, yet their role in structuring space use remains underexplored. Noise can mask biologically informative sounds which can impact foraging success, physiological fitness, and displace animals from viable habitat. Here, we test how landscape variables and soundscape characteristics across a mixed-use forest landscape affect spatial distribution of a nocturnal predator with specialized hearing. We used passive acoustic recordings to assess the effects of noise levels within biologically relevant frequency ranges on landscape use of the northern saw-whet owl ( Aegolius acadicus ) across 276 sites in Oregon, USA. Owl landscape use declined with increasing noise levels in the 1.60–7.10 kHz band, corresponding with species peak auditory sensitivity. In contrast, general low-frequency sound (0.25–1.00 kHz) was a poor predictor of landscape use but negatively affected acoustic detection probability. These results provide evidence that sensory masking from ambient soundscapes can constrain the realized acoustic niche and drive avoidance of otherwise suitable habitat. Our findings highlight the importance of considering full-spectrum acoustic environments in spatial ecology and suggest that species distributions are shaped not only by physical habitat but also by the perceptual accessibility of ecological information.