Double stimulation of the inner ear organs of an anuran species (Alytes cisternasii) with simple tonal advertisement calls

Bosch, J., and Boyero, L. (2003) Double stimulation of the inner ear organs of an anuran species (Alytes cisternasii) with simple tonal advertisement calls. Journal of Zoology, 260. pp. 347-351.

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Abstract

Midwife toads present one of the simplest calls in anurans, with the whole energy concentrated in a single band without frequency modulation. The tuning curves of the Iberian midwife toads Alytes cisternasii show the typical bimodal pattern in anurans, with two best excitatory frequencies at 0.412 kHz (corresponding to the amphibian papilla) and at 1.358 kHz (corresponding to the basilar papilla and matching the male call frequency). In this study, the hypothesis that complex calls arose in anurans because they were inherently more attractive to females, since they provided greater acoustic stimulation, was tested. However, our results indicate that splitting the call energy to stimulate both inner ear organs simultaneously, the male call is not more attractive to female midwife toads, but sometimes renders it unattractive. The biological role of the amphibian papilla is discussed in ecological and evolutionary terms.

Item ID: 8930
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1469-7998
Keywords: amphibian papilla; basilar papilla; advertisement calls; midwife toads; Alytes cisternasii; tropical biology
Date Deposited: 10 Mar 2010 04:42
FoR Codes: 06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0608 Zoology > 060801 Animal Behaviour @ 50%
06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0603 Evolutionary Biology > 060304 Ethology and Sociobiology @ 50%
SEO Codes: 96 ENVIRONMENT > 9608 Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity > 960807 Fresh, Ground and Surface Water Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity @ 50%
96 ENVIRONMENT > 9605 Ecosystem Assessment and Management > 960506 Ecosystem Assessment and Management of Fresh, Ground and Surface Water Environments @ 50%
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