An important aspect of hearing and acoustic communication is the ability to discriminate differences in sound level. Little known about level discrimination anuran amphibians (frogs toads), for which vocal noisy social environments often critical reproduction. This study used two-choice phonotaxis tests investigate females Cope's gray treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis) between two advertisement calls differing only pressure by 2, 4, or 6 dB. Tests were conducted presence absence chorus-shaped...

Abstract An important and necessary step in the analysis of any communication system involves quantitative descriptions how signals vary at multiple levels organization (e.g., species, populations, individuals). Such provide a basis for generating testable predictions about functions their specific physical properties different behavioral contexts. Here, we report results from acoustical statistical analyses advertisement calls boreal chorus frog, Pseudacris maculata . In addition to...

SUMMARY Acoustic communication signals degrade as they propagate between signalers and receivers. While we generally understand the degrading effects of sound propagation on structure acoustic signals, know considerably less about how receivers make behavioral decisions based perception degraded in sonically structurally complex habitats where occurs. In this study mate recognition Cope's gray treefrog, Hyla chrysoscelis (Cope 1880), investigated temporal male advertisement calls was...

This study tested three hypotheses about the ability of female frogs to exploit temporal fluctuations in level background noise overcome problem recognizing male advertisement calls noisy breeding choruses. Phonotaxis tests with green treefrogs (Hyla cinerea) and Cope's gray chrysoscelis) were used measure thresholds for presence maskers (a) no fluctuations, (b) random or characteristic (c) conspecific choruses (d) heterospecific The dip-listening hypothesis predicted lower signal...

Summary The evolution of vocal signals can be constrained by a host factors including habitat effects on sound propagation, morphology sound‐producing structures and phylogenetic relationships among species. Here, we asked whether auditory sensitivity over broad range frequencies correlates with the spectral content conspecific vocalizations, or it is overall structure propagation relatedness We studied nine New World sparrows (Passeriformes: Emberizidae) three open‐habitat species,...

Species differences in perception have been linked to divergence gross neuroanatomical features of sensory pathways. The anatomical and physiological basis evolutionary change processing at cellular circuit levels, however, is poorly understood. Here, we show how specific changes a microcircuit are associated with the evolution novel perceptual ability. In mormyrid fishes, ability detect variation electric communication signals correlated an enlargement midbrain exterolateral nucleus (EL),...

In Cope's gray treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis), thresholds for recognizing conspecific calls are lower in temporally modulated noise backgrounds compared with unmodulated noise. The effect of on discrimination among different is unknown. quiet, females prefer relatively more pulses. This study tested the hypotheses that impairs selectivity longer and processes akin to dip listening can ameliorate this impairment. two-stimulus choice tests, female subjects were allowed choose between an...

Recently, we reported evidence for a novel mechanism of peripheral sensory coding based on oscillatory synchrony. Spontaneously oscillating electroreceptors in weakly electric fish (Mormyridae) respond to electrosensory stimuli with phase reset that results transient synchrony across the receptor population (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="bib5">Baker et al., 2015</xref>). Here, asked whether central system actually detects occurrence synchronous oscillations among receptors. We found...

Abstract Acoustic communication often mediates agonistic interactions in territorial species. Because both the reaction to potential intruders and lack thereof are costly, mechanisms that allow recognition of conspecific signals should be evident intrasexual systems. While spectral domain space frog Allobates femoralis appears asymmetrically shaped a way reduces masking interference by syntopic Ameerega trivittata , frequency alone does not appear account for correct identification...

Diverse animals use environmental sounds to orient in ecological soundscapes. Yet, we know little about how acoustic information drives behavioral decisions orient. Although the sound generated by frog choruses functions as noise that impairs signal reception listeners aggregation, it can also serve an informative allows other individuals toward and localize active breeding aggregations. Here, investigated cues elicit orientation of a chorus green tree frogs (Hyla cinerea) Cope's gray...

Many animals communicate acoustically in large social aggregations. Among the best studied are frogs, which males form breeding choruses where they produce loud vocalizations to attract mates. Although chorus noise poses significant challenges communication, it also possesses features, such as comodulation amplitude fluctuations, that listeners may be evolutionarily adapted exploit order achieve release from masking. This study investigated extent benefits of masking (CMR) depend on overall...

Anuran advertisement calls play a fundamental role in social interactions related to reproduction, like territory defence and mate attraction. As such, are often shaped by natural sexual selection. Therefore, understand the evolution, function, mechanisms of signal production perception, it is important characterise sources patterns variation call properties. We recorded analysed two types produced Pacific tree frogs, Hyliola regilla: diphasic monophasic calls. Specifically, we examined (i)...