Acoustic, seismic and visual signaling: investigating the multimodal communication of neotropical anurans

• Grant number: 19/03170-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date until: June 01, 2019
• End date until: November 30, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Animal Behavior
• Principal Investigator: Luis Felipe de Toledo Ramos Pereira
• Grantee: Guilherme Augusto Alves
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 16/25358-3 - The chytrid fungus: from its origins to its consequences, AP.TEM
• Associated scholarship(s): 19/25109-1 - Is body color a visual cue which composes the multimodal communication? Investigating three hylids species, Boana albomarginata, Hyla cinerea, and H. versicolor, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

Acoustic signaling is the most widespread and studied mode of communication for transmission of intraspecific information in anurans. However, alternative communication modes, such as chemical, seismic, tactile, and visual, also contribute to the behavioral repertoire of anurans. Transmission of information can occur through one of these modes (unimodal) or involve the combination of two or more (multimodal communication). In addition, the use of an anatomical structure (e.g., vocal sacs), body color, or posture of the sender can transmit information to receivers. These secondary cues could provide redundant information, reinforcing some characteristic, or bring something complementary or fundamental to the interaction between individuals. Recently, researchers have demonstrated, through field observations and experiments containing choice trials, that a range of signals, aside from acoustic signals alone, play an important role in the process of mate-choice. In addition, besides the environmental and intrinsic effects on the individual, the anurans behavior can be influenced by its pathogens. Currently, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis is considered one of the major responsible for the decline of amphibian populations, but little is known about the sublethal effect of this fungus on anurans communication. For this, we will investigate the multimodal communication in three species of Neotropical anurans, Agalychnis callidryas, Boana albomarginata and Hylodes phyllodes, with a special focus on the body color function as visual cue and indicative of physical characteristics, together with the other communication modes in the intraspecific relations; in addition to investigating the influence of abiotic noise and Bd infection in the different communication modes, contributing to the understanding of variation in animal communication. (AU)

Scientific publications

(11)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

VITTORAZZI, STENIO EDER; AUGUSTO-ALVES, GUILHERME; DAS NEVES-DA-SILVA, DENER; PAULINO TELLES DE CARVALHO-E-SILVA, ANA MARIA; RECCO-PIMENTEL, SHIRLEI MARIA; TOLEDO, LUIS FELIPE; LOURENCO, LUCIANA BOLSONI; BRUSCHI, DANIEL PACHECO. Paraphyly in the giant torrent-frogs (Anura: Hylodidae: Megaelosia) and the description of a new genus. SALAMANDRA, v. 57, n. 2, p. 274-284, MAY 15 2021. (16/25358-3, 19/03170-0)

AUGUSTO-ALVES, GUILHERME; DENA, SIMONE; TOLEDO, LUIS FELIPE. coustic allometry, background stream noise and its relationship with large-bodied and voiceless rheophilic frog. ZOOLOGISCHER ANZEIGER, v. 295, p. 156-162, NOV 2021. (14/23388-7, 19/03170-0, 16/25358-3)

BARDIER, CECILIA; SZEKELY, DIANA; AUGUSTO-ALVES, GUILHERME; MATINEZ-LATORRACA, NICOLAS; SCHMIDT, BENEDIKT R.; CRUICKSHANK, SAM S.. Performance of visual vs. software-assisted photo-identification in mark-recapture studies: a case study examining different life stages of the Pacific Horned Frog (Ceratophrys stolzmanni). Amphibia-Reptilia, v. 42, n. 1, p. 17-28, 2021. (19/03170-0)

DENA, SIMONE; REBOUCAS, RAONI; AUGUSTO-ALVES, GUILHERME; ZORNOSA-TORRES, CAMILA; PONTES, MARIANA RETUCI; TOLEDO, LUIS FELIPE. How much are we losing in not depositing anuran sound recordings in scientific collections?. BIOACOUSTICS-THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SOUND AND ITS RECORDING, v. 29, n. 5, JUN 2019. (16/25358-3, 19/03170-0)

LEAL, FERNANDO; ZORNOSA-TORRES, CAMILA; AUGUSTO-ALVES, GUILHERME; DENA, SIMONE; PEZZUTI, TIAGO LEITE; LEITE, FELIPE; LOURENCO, LUCIANA BOLSONI; GARCIA, PAULO; TOLEDO, LUIS FELIPE. Head in the clouds: a new dwarf frog species of the Physalaemus signifer clade (Leptodactylidae, Leiuperinae) from the top of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF TAXONOMY, v. 764, p. 119-151, AUG 19 2021. (16/25358-3, 19/03170-0, 11/09239-0, 19/18335-5)

REBOUCAS, RAONI; AUGUSTO-ALVES, GUILHERME; TOLEDO, LUIS FELIPE. Evolution of treefrogs' calls in tropical islands might be under directional selection. JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY, v. 312, n. 1, MAY 2020. (19/03170-0, 16/25358-3)

AUGUSTO-ALVES, GUILHERME; RUGGERI, JOICE; DA SILVA MARTINS, ANA GLAUCIA; ROSA DOMINGOS, ADAO HENRIQUE; SANTOS, ISAIAS; TOLEDO, LUIS FELIPE. Leptodactylus flavopictus: temporal calling activity and tadpole redescription. SALAMANDRA, v. 56, n. 2, p. 123-134, MAY 15 2020. (17/01917-6, 16/25358-3, 19/03170-0)

FORTI, LUCAS RODRIGUEZ; PONTES, MARIANA RETUCI; AUGUSTO-ALVES, GUILHERME; MARTINS, ALLANA; HEPP, FABIO; SZABO, JUDIT K.. Data collected by citizen scientists reveal the role of climate and phylogeny on the frequency of shelter types used by frogs across the Americas. ZOOLOGY, v. 155, p. 11-pg., 2022-12-01. (19/03170-0, 20/00099-0)

AUGUSTO-ALVES, GUILHERME; TOLEDO, LUIS FELIPE. Communication across multiple sensory modes: quantifying the rich behavioural repertoire of a Neotropical torrent frog. BEHAVIOUR, v. 159, n. 3-4, p. 25-pg., 2022-02-01. (19/03170-0, 16/25358-3)

ZORNOSA-TORRES, CAMILA; AUGUSTO-ALVES, GUILHERME; LYRA, MARIANA L.; DA SILVA JUNIOR, JOSE CASSIMIRO; GARCIA, PAULO C. A.; LEITE, FELIPE; VERDADE, VANESSA; RODRIGUES, MIGUEL T.; GASPARINI, JOAO LUIZ; HADDAD, CELIO F. B.; et al. Anurans of the Caparao National Park and surroundings, southeast Brazil. Biota Neotropica, v. 20, n. 3, 2020. (14/23388-7, 11/50146-6, 13/50741-7, 19/03170-0, 03/10335-8, 01/05470-8, 16/25358-3)

BOVOLON, JOAO PEDRO; ZORNOSA-TORRES, CAMILA; AUGUSTO-ALVES, GUILHERME; ALMEIDA, ANTONIO P.; GASPARINI, JOAO LUIZ; TOLEDO, LUIS FELIPE. Advertisement calls of two species of the Sphaenorhynchus platycephalus group and the aggressive call of S. bromelicola (Anura: Hylidae: Scinaxinae). SALAMANDRA, v. 56, n. 4, p. 4-pg., 2020-10-30. (16/25358-3, 19/03170-0)