Advertisement calls of six species of anurans from Bali, Republic of Indonesia
TL;DR: It is described quantitatively the advertisement calls of six species of anurans from Bali and the release call of three of these and the three release calls have not been described previously to the best of the authors' knowledge.
Abstract: We describe quantitatively the advertisement calls of six species of anurans from Bali and the release call of three of these. The advertisement calls of three of the species and the three release calls have not been described previously to the best of our knowledge. This is the first study that describes calls from anurans of the island of Bali. Advertisement call characteristics are discussed in light of within‐individual and between‐individual variation. For the three species with previously published accounts of their advertisement calls we compare the data obtained in Bali with other accounts. While Bufo melanostictus did not show a substantial difference in advertisement calls from Coorg (India), the calls of Balinese Fejervarya (Limnonectes) limnocharis show substantial differences with those recorded in Coorg (India). Furthermore, the Balinese recordings of Polypedates leucomystax are similar to recordings obtained by other authors in Negros (Philippines), the Malaysian part of Borneo, and from on...
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TL;DR: It is shown that small-sized frogs often emit calls with frequency components in the ultrasound spectrum, although it is unlikely that these high frequencies are of biological relevance for the majority of them, and it is illustrated that detection of upper harmonics depends also on recording distance because higher frequencies are attenuated more strongly.
Abstract: Vocalizations of anuran amphibians have received much attention in studies of behavioral ecology and physiology, but also provide informative characters for identifying and delimiting species. We here review the terminology and variation of frog calls from a perspective of integrative taxonomy, and provide hands-on protocols for recording, analyzing, comparing, interpreting and describing these sounds. Our focus is on advertisement calls, which serve as premating isolation mechanisms and, therefore, convey important taxonomic information. We provide recommendations for terminology of frog vocalizations, with call, note and pulse being the fundamental subunits to be used in descriptions and comparisons. However, due to the complexity and diversity of these signals, an unequivocal application of the terms call and note can be challenging. We therefore provide two coherent concepts that either follow a note-centered approach (defining uninterrupted units of sound as notes, and their entirety as call) or a call-centered approach (defining uninterrupted units as call whenever they are separated by long silent intervals) in terminology. Based on surveys of literature, we show that numerous call traits can be highly variable within and between individuals of one species. Despite idiosyncrasies of species and higher taxa, the duration of calls or notes, pulse rate within notes, and number of pulses per note appear to be more static within individuals and somewhat less affected by temperature. Therefore, these variables might often be preferable as taxonomic characters over call rate or note rate, which are heavily influenced by various factors. Dominant frequency is also comparatively static and only weakly affected by temperature, but depends strongly on body size. As with other taxonomic characters, strong call divergence is typically indicative of species-level differences, whereas call similarities of two populations are no evidence for them being conspecific. Taxonomic conclusions can especially be drawn when the general advertisement call structure of two candidate species is radically different and qualitative call differences are thus observed. On the other hand, quantitative differences in call traits might substantially vary within and among conspecific populations, and require careful evaluation and analysis. We provide guidelines for the taxonomic interpretation of advertisement call differences in sympatric and allopatric situations, and emphasize the need for an integrative use of multiple datasets (bio-acoustics, morphology, genetics), particularly for allopatric scenarios. We show that small-sized frogs often emit calls with frequency components in the ultrasound spectrum, although it is unlikely that these high frequencies are of biological relevance for the majority of them, and we illustrate that detection of upper harmonics depends also on recording distance because higher frequencies are attenuated more strongly. Bioacoustics remains a prime approach in integrative taxonomy of anurans if uncertainty due to possible intraspecific variation and technical artifacts is adequately considered and acknowledged.
336 citations
01 Jan 2017
TL;DR: A review of the terminology and variation of frog calls from a perspective of integrative taxonomy can be found in this paper, where the authors provide guidelines for the taxonomic interpretation of advertisement call differences in sympatric and allopatric situations.
Abstract: Vocalizations of anuran amphibians have received much attention in studies of behavioral ecology and physiology, but also provide informative characters for identifying and delimiting species. We here review the terminology and variation of frog calls from a perspective of integrative taxonomy, and provide hands-on protocols for recording, analyzing, comparing, interpreting and describing these sounds. Our focus is on advertisement calls, which serve as premating isolation mechanisms and, therefore, convey important taxonomic information. We provide recommendations for terminology of frog vocalizations, with call, note and pulse being the fundamental subunits to be used in descriptions and comparisons. However, due to the complexity and diversity of these signals, an unequivocal application of the terms call and note can be challenging. We therefore provide two coherent concepts that either follow a note-centered approach (defining uninterrupted units of sound as notes, and their entirety as call) or a call-centered approach (defining uninterrupted units as call whenever they are separated by long silent intervals) in terminology. Based on surveys of literature, we show that numerous call traits can be highly variable within and between individuals of one species. Despite idiosyncrasies of species and higher taxa, the duration of calls or notes, pulse rate within notes, and number of pulses per note appear to be more static within individuals and somewhat less affected by temperature. Therefore, these variables might often be preferable as taxonomic characters over call rate or note rate, which are heavily influenced by various factors. Dominant frequency is also comparatively static and only weakly affected by temperature, but depends strongly on body size. As with other taxonomic characters, strong call divergence is typically indicative of species-level differences, whereas call similarities of two populations are no evidence for them being conspecific. Taxonomic conclusions can especially be drawn when the general advertisement call structure of two candidate species is radically different and qualitative call differences are thus observed. On the other hand, quantitative differences in call traits might substantially vary within and among conspecific populations, and require careful evaluation and analysis. We provide guidelines for the taxonomic interpretation of advertisement call differences in sympatric and allopatric situations, and emphasize the need for an integrative use of multiple datasets (bio-acoustics, morphology, genetics), particularly for allopatric scenarios. We show that small-sized frogs often emit calls with frequency components in the ultrasound spectrum, although it is unlikely that these high frequencies are of biological relevance for the majority of them, and we illustrate that detection of upper harmonics depends also on recording distance because higher frequencies are attenuated more strongly. Bioacoustics remains a prime approach in integrative taxonomy of anurans if uncertainty due to possible intraspecific variation and technical artifacts is adequately considered and acknowledged.
120 citations
TL;DR: The results show that anurans, and especially bufonid toads, are an excellent model to study the behavioural correlates of earlessness, extratympanic sound pathways, and the genetic and developmental mechanisms that underlie the morphogenesis of TME structures.
Abstract: Most anurans possess a tympanic middle ear (TME) that transmits sound waves to the inner ear; however, numerous species lack some or all TME components. To understand the evolution of these structures, we undertook a comprehensive assessment of their occurrence across anurans and performed ancestral character state reconstructions. Our analysis indicates that the TME was completely lost at least 38 independent times in Anura. The inferred evolutionary history of the TME is exceptionally complex in true toads (Bufonidae), where it was lost in the most recent common ancestor, preceding a radiation of >150 earless species. Following that initial loss, independent regains of some or all TME structures were inferred within two minor clades and in a radiation of >400 species. The reappearance of the TME in the latter clade was followed by at least 10 losses of the entire TME. The many losses and gains of the TME in anurans is unparalleled among tetrapods. Our results show that anurans and especially bufonid toads, are an excellent model to study the behavioural correlates of earlessness, extratympanic sound pathways and the genetic and developmental mechanisms that underlie the morphogenesis of TME structures.
58 citations
Additional excerpts
...…prolonged Savage, 2002 I. nebulifer prolonged Savage, 2002 I. valliceps prolonged Wells, 1977 Ingerophrynus (12 sp.) I. biporcatus prolonged Márquez & Eekhout, 2006 I. parvus prolonged Shahriza et al., 2012 Laurentophryne (1 sp.) No data Leptophryne (2 sp.) No data Melanophryniscus (26…...
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Journal Article•
TL;DR: The present study investigates the influence of the air temperature, morphological characteristics and distance between calling males on acoustic parameters of Dendropsophus minutus and concludes that the high variation in D.minutus calls might be important during mate choice process.
Abstract: Correspondence: Alessandro R. Morais, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia & Evolução, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Caixa Postal 131, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil; E-mail: alessandrogyn@hotmail.com Acoustic signals are the most important communication mechanism for many anuran species. However, acoustic parameters can be influenced by several factors (e.g., body size, air temperature and social context). In the present study, we investigated the influence of the air temperature, morphological characteristics and distance between calling males on acoustic parameters of Dendropsophus minutus. In addition, we studied the entropy values of calls, acoustic variability (both within and among males) and the potential for individual discrimination. The observations were carried out between January 2009 and April 2011, in Piracanjuba, Goiás, central Brazil. Males of D. minutus emitted single and compound calls, composed by notes A, B and C. We observed that vocalizations may be influenced by snout-vent length, body mass, air temperature and distance between calling males (P<0.05 in all cases). Dominant frequency was the only variable classified as a static property. There was higher variability among males than within males in all parameters measured. Individual males of D. minutus may be discriminated by their vocalizations, with dominant frequency being the main acoustic variable used in individual discrimination. We conclude that the high variation in D. minutus calls might be important during mate choice process.
38 citations
Cites methods from "Advertisement calls of six species ..."
...We calculated the ratio of among-males and within-male coefficients of variation (CVa/CVw) to determine the variability among-males (Márquez & Eekhout, 2006)....
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TL;DR: The results suggest that combat behaviour in glassfrogs is more complex than previously hypothesized and that hypotheses on the evolution of combat behaviour need re-evaluation.
Abstract: In many frog species, males defend a territory through direct male-to-male interactions and/or aggressive calling behaviour. We describe the site fidelity, vocalizations, aggressive interactions, and male combat behaviour of the glassfrog Nymphargus grandisonae. We show high specificity of males’ calling and mating sites. We then describe the temporal and spectral differences for six types of vocalizations. We link these vocalizations to behavioural observations, describing their aggressive and reproductive contexts. Additionally, we show that combat is highly variable and includes three previously described and two unreported variations. We describe injuries resulting from combat and we report the first observation of a multiple night fight between the same two males. Our observations on site fidelity and aggression provide evidence for territoriality among males. Furthermore, our results suggest that combat behaviour in glassfrogs is more complex than previously hypothesized and that hypotheses on the e...
35 citations
References
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DOI•
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699 citations
"Advertisement calls of six species ..." refers methods in this paper
...The terminology used for the description of the calls is based on Heyer et al. (1990) and the oscillograms and audiospectrograms presented follow the format of Bosch et al. (2000)....
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TL;DR: Playback experiments showed that females exhibit patterns of preferences that should result in selection that is stabilizing or weakly directional on static properties, and highly directional on dynamic properties; and the overall attractiveness of a signal is affected by variation in both static and dynamic properties.
622 citations
"Advertisement calls of six species ..." refers background in this paper
...Average values are included together with between-individual and within-individual coefficients of variation (CVbetween and CVwithin) that were calculated in order to determine which are ‘‘static’’ and which are ‘‘dynamic’’ (sensu Gerhardt 1991)....
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated patterns of mating call preference and mating call recognition by examining phonotaxis of female tungara frogs, Physalaemus pustulosus, in response to conspecific and heterospecific calls.
Abstract: We investigated patterns of mating call preference and mating call recognition by examining phonotaxis of female tungara frogs, Physalaemus pustulosus, in response to conspecific and heterospecific calls. There are four results: females always prefer conspecific calls; most heterospecific calls do not elicit phonotaxis; some heterospecific calls do elicit phonotaxis and thus are effective mate recognition signals; and females prefer conspecific calls to which a component of a heterospecific call has been added to a normal conspecific call. We use these data to illustrate how concepts of species recognition and sexual selection can be understood in a unitary framework by comparing the distribution of signal traits to female preference functions.
471 citations
TL;DR: The evidence from the allopatric and sympatric species pairs is interpreted as indicating that speciation has occurred either through the evolution of effective isolation mechanisms under geographical isolation or through reinforcement of partially effective mechanisms after ranges have become sympatrics.
Abstract: Analysis of the mating call is useful for the study of evolutionary problems in anuran amphibians because characteristics of the call are chiefly related to the functions of attracting a mate and of species identification in breeding congresses. Use of the sound spectrograph in recent years has made possible the measurement and objective comparison of calls. Variations in call occur among individuals in local populations and between the calls of the same individual under different conditions. Frequency and repetition rate tend to increase with increased environmental temperature and to decrease with increased body size. The call may vary in relation to sexual excitement. The variation in call of a single Hyla versicolor recorded on nine different nights and the variations among 17 Pseudacris streckeri recorded from a breeding population on a single night are discussed. Variations not explainable in terms of environmental or ontogenetic factors or degree of sexual excitement are deemed to have a genetic ba...
207 citations