Acoustic niche partitioning in an anuran community from the municipality of Floriano, Piauí, Brazil

Abstract

Vocalizations are an important trait for the identification of cryptic and/or closely related amphibian species. Different vocalizations also contribute to partitioning of the acoustic space by sympatric species. This study aimed to describe the advertisement calls of anurans in a pond of the municipality of Floriano, State of Piauí, Brazil, and infer the acoustic niche partitioning of amphibians. Euclidean distance was used in a cluster analysis approach to infer the acoustic similarities among species. Thirteen species were analysed: Boana raniceps, Dendropsophus nanus, D. rubicundulus , D. minutus, Leptodactylus fuscus, L. troglodytes, L. vastus, Pithecopus nordestinus , Physalaemus cuvieri, P. nattereri, Pleurodema diplolister, Proceratophrys cristiceps and Scinax ruber. From these, six showed more than 90% of acoustic overlap: P. nattereri , P. cuvieri, L. fuscus and L. vastus (Leptodactylidae); and, D. nanus and D. rubicundulus (Hylidae). Despite the acoustic similarities among these six species, the acoustic interference was reduced due to the small number of sympatric species and to distinct features on carrier frequency such as dominant frequency and the degree of modulation in the frequency. Environmental factors limit the periods and sites of reproduction respectively, which may maintain the low anuran diversity and consequently reduce acoustic overlap.

Sharing sound: Avian acoustic niches in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

“…Taxa such as felids and ungulates have evolved restrained vocal repertoires of a few types of calls, while others like songbirds and cetaceans employ complex patterns of calls and songs (Janik, 2014; Kroodsma & Pickert, 1984; Mooney et al., 2001; Peters & Tonkin‐Leyhausen, 1999; Warren et al., 2017; Weilgart & Whitehead, 1997; Weissengruber et al., 2008). In biodiverse habitats, animals have been found to partition their calling behavior to minimize interference with ambient sound, maximizing their ability to communicate effectively (Chek et al., 2003; Duellman & Pyles, 1983; Lima et al., 2019; Mossbridge & Thomas, 1999; Ruppé et al., 2015; Tobias et al., 2014). The Acoustic Niche Hypothesis (ANH) set in stone by Bernard L. Krause in 1993 implies that animals sharing a habitat will evolve to partition their calling bandwidths to avoid masking and share the so‐called “acoustic space” and has been supported by a growing body of research (Krause, 1993; Villanueva‐Rivera, 2014).…”

“…. In biodiverse habitats, animals have been found to partition their calling behavior to minimize interference with ambient sound, maximizing their ability to communicate effectively (Chek et al, 2003;Duellman & Pyles, 1983;Lima et al, 2019;Mossbridge & Thomas, 1999;Ruppé et al, 2015;Tobias et al, 2014). The Acoustic Niche Hypothesis (ANH) set in stone by Bernard L. Krause in 1993 implies that animals sharing a habitat will evolve to partition their calling bandwidths to avoid masking and share the so-called "acoustic space" and has been supported by a growing body of research (Krause, 1993;Villanueva-Rivera, 2014).…”

Metabolic and Redox Biomarkers in Skeletal Muscle Underlie Physiological Adaptations of Two Estivating Anuran Species in a South American Semi-arid Environment

“…Although there is a significant decrease in the capacity of oxidative pathways in muscle in both species, P. diplolister tends to maintain higher levels of both anaerobic and aerobic metabolism than P. cristiceps does. This evidence may be relevant within the ecological relationships between these species because buried individuals of P. diplolister can react quickly to environmental signals of the first rains at the end of the dry season, having quick access to the reproduction areas which will not be used simultaneously by P. cristiceps , which represents an example of niche segregation by space ( dos Santos Protázio et al, 2015 ; Jared et al, 2019 ; Lima et al, 2019 ).…”

Ausencia de partición del nicho acústico en una comunidad de anuros en Chiapas, México

“…No obstante, nuestros resultados muestran que, aunque hay un gran solapamiento en el volumen del nicho acústico, sí parece haber una especialización en la frecuencia dominante (ver más adelante). Lima et al (2019) sugieren que el alto nivel de solapamiento de nichos puede deberse a un bajo nivel de simpatría entre las especies. Esto concuerda con nuestros resultados ya que nuestras zonas mostraron una baja similitud en la di-6 Ochoa-Ochoa et al 2021 Ecosistemas 30(1): 1962 Figura 3.…”