Anthropogenic noise overlaps with songs male birds use to defend territories and attract mates, both critical aspects of reproduction. In response to noise, males alter their song structure, but whether they actually benefit from song changes is unknown. Additionally, it remains unclear whether song changes disrupt communication by affecting interactions with mates, neighbors, or intruder detection, all of which may have implications for male fitness, population dynamics, and ultimately the persistence of populations in urban environments.

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This research explored the effects of anthropogenic noise masking on conspecific interactions by linking variation in noise with male song changes, signal transmission patterns, and song perception. I used experimental and observational methods to examine whether male house wrens (Troglodytes aedon) structure their song as a function of noise and crucially how noise alters transmission, perception, and communication in social networks.