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INFLUENCE OF CONSPECIFICS AND ROAD NOISE ON THE PROPERTIES OF THE ADVERTISEMENT CALL OF PHYLLODYTES LUTEOLUS (ANURA, HYLIDAE)
  • Leonardo Marques de Abreu,
  • Vinicius Guerra Batista,
  • Mirco Sole
Leonardo Marques de Abreu
Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz

Corresponding Author:leoomarques95@gmail.com

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Vinicius Guerra Batista
Federal University of Mato Grosso - Campus Sinop
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Mirco Sole
State University of Santa Cruz Department of Biological Sciences
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Abstract

Acoustic communication in animals can be affected by multiple biotic (intra and interspecific) and abiotic (e.g., wind and rain) natural noises. In addition, human beings produce additional novel sources of noise, which can reduce or inhibit the reception of acoustic signals by conspecifics, leading to behavioral changes. In this study, we investigated whether sound of conspecifics and road noise additively affect the acoustic parameters of the advertisement call of males of a Yellow Heart-tongued Frog (Phyllodytes luteolus). We hypothesized that males that vocalize in larger choruses (many males) and in areas close to highways (anthropic noise) will increase their temporal and spectral acoustic parameters, respectively, to avoid acoustic signal masking. We recorded the vocalizations of 38 males in environments close (N=18) to and distant (N=20) from highways in different social contexts (many or few individuals in the chorus). Contrary to our expectation, the results indicated that individuals exposed to road noise had lower dominant frequency calls than those from natural areas, and that the density of males in the chorus had no influence on the acoustic parameters. Furthermore, we found a positive relationship between body size and intensity, indicating that larger individuals can emit calls that can reach greater distances. The advertisement call of Phyllodytes luteolus has a high dominant frequency, with little overlap with the frequency of anthropic noises (roads), which may explain its presence and reproductive success of this species in bromeliads from urbanized areas.
27 Jun 2023Submitted to Ecology and Evolution
30 Aug 2023Submission Checks Completed
30 Aug 2023Assigned to Editor
17 Oct 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
05 Feb 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
09 Feb 2024Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
08 Mar 20241st Revision Received
16 Mar 2024Submission Checks Completed
16 Mar 2024Assigned to Editor
16 Mar 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
18 Mar 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
27 Mar 2024Editorial Decision: Accept