Passage: Noise pollution has significant effects on both animals and the environment. For animals, it disrupts essential behaviours such as feeding, communication, mating, and migration. Many animals rely on sound to attract mates, defend territory, and locate prey. When noise interferes with these abilities, it can reduce reproductive success and lead to population declines. Birds may struggle to hear mating calls, while marine animals like whales and dolphins are particularly vulnerable to noise from ships, sonar, or seismic surveys. These disruptions can cause stress, hearing loss, behavioural changes, and in extreme cases, even death. Feeding is also affected, as animals that use sound to hunt may find it harder to detect prey, leading to increased competition for limited food resources. Noise can also alter migration routes, changing population distribution. The environment is similarly impacted. High noise levels can reduce plant growth and diversity by interfering with photosynthesis and nutrient uptake, leading to changes in plant community structures. Soil quality suffers when loud noise causes compaction, reducing air and water flow and decreasing fertility. Aquatic environments are also affected, as noise disrupts the natural behaviours of aquatic organisms, affecting their ability to feed and reproduce. Overall, noise pollution harms biodiversity and disturbs ecosystem balance. Question: Identify the inference drawn from the passage.

1. Soil fertility improves in areas with higher noise levels.
2. Noise pollution may indirectly contribute to food scarcity among animals.
3. Noise pollution only affects animals that live on land or near cities.
4. Loud environments increase animal reproductive rates.