ANURAN VOCALIZATION AND ITS MEANING: BEHAVIORAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACTERS HELP TO UNDERSTAND EVOLUTION OF COMMUNICATION

• Grant number: 24/20185-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: March 01, 2025
• End date: June 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Carlos Arturo Navas Iannini
• Grantee: Laura Camila Cabanzo Olarte
• Supervisor: Catherine Robb Bevier
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Colby College, United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 23/12446-5 - Frog vocalization and the E-system of language, BP.PD

Abstract

Acoustic communication plays a vital role in anuran interactions, particularly during breeding, where males use calls to defend territories, attract females, and communicate with conspecific males. Research suggests anuran males can modulate call composition, suggesting a form of 'compositional syntax'. Females rely on these acoustic signals for mate recognition, and neurophysiological processes influence auditory response. Thus, male and female neural activity in response to these signals differs but more research is needed to understand population-wide variation in these characters: current reports are very sparse and focus on only a few model species. Controlled playback tests quantify responses, but field studies are essential for exploring social context and potential syntactic structures in anuran communication, shedding light on reproductive behavior. The Mink Frog (Aquarana septentrionalis) and Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens) serve as key species for exploring these patterns because males of these species produce complex calls. This project aims to explore the underlying neurophysiological processes involved with perception and processing of male acoustic signals by male and female conspecifics. We will use an experimental approach, both in a controlled lab environment and in the field, using behavioral playback tests. Briefly, we will broadcast acoustic stimuli, document female and male responses, and sample individuals for neural activity to identify neural regions involved in acoustic recognition. Extending this analysis to more species will clarify the adaptive value of complex multi-note calls in social contexts and improve understanding of the perceptual and response constraints in males and females during breeding.