The advertisement calls of four species of glassfrogs (Centrolenidae) from southeastern Peru
- ISSN: 01650521
- ISBN: 0165052090
- DOI: 10.1080/01650520903036653
Abstract
We describe the advertisement calls of four species of glassfrogs (Centrolenidae) of the genus Nymphargus, Rulyr- ana and Centrolene known to occur in the upper Manu National Park, on the eastern slopes of the Andes in southern Peru. Glassfrogs inhabit a harsh acoustic environment, because they call and reproduce along noisy mountain streams and rivers. We found extensive variation in the structure, temporal and spectral characteristics of the recorded calls. Although sample sizes were small, our data indicate that intraspecific variation is small. Interspecific variation in calls involved temporal as well as spectral traits. We observed two divergent call struc- tures from a hypothetical simple model of the advertisement call. This simple model consists of a well-pulsed and moderate-frequency modulated call, such as the call emitted by N. pluvialis. The two divergent modifications encountered in our study included the further simplification of the call structure, such as the loss of amplitude and frequency modulation (encountered in R. spiculata), and repetition of a given temporal structure and the produc- tion of redundant signals (in Centrolene sp.). We discuss how acoustic properties of glassfrog calls could be modi- fied in order to better transmit information through the noisy environment of waterfalls and running water
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