Acoustic characteristics of a native anuran (Amphibia) assemblage in a palustrine herbaceous wetland from Puerto Rico

Imagen de Luis J. Villanueva
PDF versionPDF version
TítuloAcoustic characteristics of a native anuran (Amphibia) assemblage in a palustrine herbaceous wetland from Puerto Rico
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2013
AutoresRíos-López, N, Villanueva-Rivera, LJ
JournalLife: The Excitement of Biology
Volume1
Pagination118–135
Abstract

We documented patterns of microhabitat use, relative species abundance, and acoustic characteristics of a Puerto Rican native anuran assemblage from a palustrine herbaceous wetland. We found significant interspecific differences in the spatial distribution of calling males among microhabitat types, which differed in percent cover, height, and physical structure. The spectrogram revealed no acoustic interspecific overlap of calls above 3.0 {kHz} and a significant inverse relationship between body size and frequency of call. Most calls were between 4.0 {kHz} and 8.5 {kHz} range, indicative of a small-sized species assemblage. Diel calling activity patterns showed considerable interspecific overlap with most calling activity starting at approximately 16:30 hrs and decreasing after 23:30 hrs. In general, acoustic communication seems enhanced by interactions between abiotic (e.g., microhabitat/vegetation type used for calling) and biotic factors (e.g., calling behavior) that reduce acoustic attenuation in this wetland environment even though calling males can be within interspecific hearing range.

URLhttp://dx.doi.org/10.9784/LEB1(2)Rios.04
DOI10.9784/LEB1(2)Rios.04