Impacts of heat waves on the vocalization of Ololygon faivovichi, an endangered island tree frog.

• Grant number: 25/03442-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2025
• End date: January 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Theoretical Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Cinthia Aguirre Brasileiro
• Grantee: Juliana Midori Kobayashi Cunha
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Ambientais, Químicas e Farmacêuticas (ICAQF). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Diadema. Diadema , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Climate change represents one of the greatest global challenges, affecting ecosystems and species. Among its main impacts are rising global average temperatures and the intensification of extreme weather events, such as heat waves. Amphibians, due to their ectothermy and permeable skin, are among the most vulnerable groups, experiencing population declines linked to emerging diseases and environmental stress. Insular species, such as Ololygon faivovichi, endemic to a small island in Brazil, are particularly susceptible due to their restricted habitat and specific environmental conditions.In this project, we will investigate the influence of environmental conditions, particularly extreme weather events, on the vocalization behavior of O. faivovichi. To achieve this, we will analyze recordings collected between August 2022 and August 2024 using remote acoustic monitoring systems installed in three bromeliads on Porcos Pequena Island. We will examine daily and monthly vocalization patterns, correlating the number of calls recorded per hour and over 24-hour periods with air temperature and relative humidity. Additionally, we will assess vocal activity during heat waves, comparing it to the vocalization activity recorded in the weeks before and after these events.This study will provide essential information for the conservation of O. faivovichi and may support effective management strategies in response to global climate change.