圆蟾舌蛙鸣声特征分析

为研究体型较小的蛙类的鸣声特征,2012年7~8月,采用录音机和指向性话筒,在野外录制51只雄性圆蟾舌蛙(Phrynoglossus martensii)鸣声并对应测量了录音个体的体重、体长及头宽等体征数据。雄性圆蟾舌蛙的体重为(1.26±0.55)g,体长为(21.04±2.57)mm,头宽为(6.76±0.75)mm。该种蛙可发出广告鸣声和争斗鸣声。广告鸣声为单音节鸣叫,主频(3 782.25±167.78)Hz,3 100~4 349 Hz;基频(1 519.69±70.60)Hz,1 057~1 765 Hz。广告鸣声主频和基频均与体重、体长、头宽呈显著负相关,而音节间隔与体重和头宽呈正相关(相关性分析)。争斗鸣声主频(3 752.64±174.47)Hz,(3 304~4 081)Hz;基频(1 674.88±79.88)Hz,1 367~1 870 Hz。与广告鸣声相比,争斗鸣声的基频显著增高(t=﹣5.374,df=56,P0.001),音节时长和音节间隔显著降低(P0.05),而主频在两种鸣声类型中无显著差异(t=0.436,df=56,P=0.665)(独立样本T检验)。结果表明,作为体型较小的蛙类,体型影响了圆蟾舌蛙的鸣声结构和类型。     

沼水蛙繁殖期鸣声特征及鸣叫节律

鸣叫对无尾两栖类动物的生存与繁殖起重要作用。蛙类的鸣叫行为受到环境因素影响表现出一定的节律性。2016年8和9月,采用录音机和指向性话筒,在野外录制了57只沼水蛙（Hylarana guentheri）的鸣声并对其鸣声特征进行分析;通过悬挂录音笔和自动温湿度记录仪研究了沼水蛙鸣叫节律（17 d）及其与环境温度、相对湿度的关系。结果显示,沼水蛙的鸣声由1 ~ 4个音节组成,不同类型鸣声间的音节主频、音节时长存在显著差异（P < 0.05）。该物种全天具有鸣叫行为,13:00 ~ 14:00时为鸣叫高峰期。白天单音节鸣声、双音节鸣声、三音节鸣声、总鸣声和总音节的数量较夜晚显著增加（P < 0.01）。鸣声数量和音节数量均与环境温度呈正相关（P < 0.01）。结果表明,沼水蛙通过改变音节数量、音节主频和音节时长改变鸣叫策略。沼水蛙的鸣叫行为具有昼夜节律性且受环境温度的影响。     

同一噪音环境下武夷湍蛙与凹耳蛙的求偶鸣声特征比较及其适应策略

为了解同域分布的两种无尾两栖类动物武夷湍蛙(Amolops wuyiensis)和凹耳蛙(Odorrana tormotus)在高噪音环境下的求偶鸣声特征及其适应策略,该研究利用超声录音设备录制并分析了繁殖季节武夷湍蛙和凹耳蛙雄性个体在同一噪音环境下的求偶鸣声。结果显示,繁殖期武夷湍蛙在不同时段均能发出3~6个音节数不等的单一鸣声,每个音节由2~10个声脉冲组成,鸣声平均持续时间为2198.20ms,主频为2231.90Hz,信噪声强差为33.00dB,且鸣声不含超声组分,不具备超声通讯的基础。凹耳蛙在每天的18:00—21:00有集中鸣叫行为,鸣声平均持续时间为331.80ms,主频为6665.50Hz,信噪声强差为37.00dB,且鸣声谐波包含超声组分,与前人描述一致。经进一步分析发现,武夷湍蛙和凹耳蛙的鸣声主频和声强均高于背景噪音,噪音不会对其鸣声产生掩蔽作用。通过比较分析得知,武夷湍蛙鸣声主频率<凹耳蛙,推测其声信号传播距离相对后者更远,该蛙在噪音环境下有可能通过调整自身的发声策略(即采用多音节鸣叫声、增加鸣叫时长和鸣叫频次等)来完成种内通讯,并通过改变鸣声时长来体现雄性自身的品质,以便提高对雌性的吸引力。而相同噪音环境下的凹耳蛙则可能采用较为节约能量的方式提高声信号频率的通讯策略,完成种内竞争和交流。     

海陆蛙繁殖期鸣声特征和鸣叫节律

声音是动物信息传递的重要媒介之一,分析鸣声特征有利于理解蛙类的信息传递。受环境选择压力的影响,蛙类鸣叫行为节律具有物种差异性。为研究栖息在咸水-半咸水生境中的海陆蛙(Fejervarya cancrivora)的鸣声特征及鸣叫节律,2017年6—10月,采用录音机和指向性话筒在野外录制了24只海陆蛙的鸣声;通过悬挂录音笔和自动温湿度记录仪分析了鸣叫节律及其与环境温度和相对湿度的关系。结果表明:海陆蛙的鸣声由基本音、基本音的组合音和多音节鸣声组成,且具有调频现象;鸣叫行为开始于每天20:00—21:00,翌日5:00—6:00结束,鸣叫高峰期为2:00—4:00;鸣声数量与环境温度及相对湿度均无显著相关性(P0.05),每天当温度升高时(5:00—6:00),鸣叫行为结束;海陆蛙可能通过改变鸣声类型和调频的策略增加鸣声的复杂性,提高信息传递效率;该物种的鸣叫行为具有一定的日节律性,属于整晚鸣叫型;海陆蛙鸣叫行为开始和结束的时间可能受环境温度的影响,较高的相对湿度有利于声音的传播。     

雄性凹耳蛙的争斗鸣声及其打斗行为

2017年4月17日,在黄山浮溪完整地记录了2只雄性凹耳蛙（Odorrana tormotus）之间争夺领地的打斗过程、争斗鸣声以及其中一只蛙打斗后的鸣声,并用摄像机记录了此行为的过程。争斗大约持续了8 min,并产生了一个胜利者和一个失败者。实验共录了胜利蛙的争斗鸣声17声,打斗后鸣声7声,失败蛙的争斗鸣声6声,其中两只蛙同时鸣叫了1声。随后通过Praat语音软件获取鸣声的时域参数和频谱参数,并利用T检验来判断两只蛙争斗鸣声参数是否具有显著差异,以及胜利蛙打斗时与打斗后的鸣声参数是否具有显著差异。对两只蛙争斗鸣声的时域和频谱参数分析发现,胜利蛙以多音节鸣叫为主,其平均基频（8 150 ± 1 305）Hz、最大基频（9 741 ± 1 283）Hz、最小基频（5 809 ± 1 139）Hz以及最大最小基频差（3 932 ± 1 122）Hz都高于失败蛙,尤其是平均基频和最大基频（P < 0.05）,而最小基频以及最大最小基频差二者差异并不显著（P > 0.05）,但是胜利蛙的主频却要略低于失败蛙（P > 0.05）;失败蛙的鸣声中非线性片段时长占总时长的百分比更大,甚至超过50%。将胜利蛙的争斗鸣声与打斗后鸣声进行比较,发现总时长、非线性片段时长和平均基频在争斗后都有明显减小（P < 0.05）,最大基频、最小基频有略微减小（P > 0.05）,而音节间隔时间占总时间的百分比和大小基频差都有所增大（P > 0.05）,这可能是为了在争斗过程中更快地击退对手。因此,推测胜利蛙获取胜利的原因可能是因为其具有较高的鸣叫率以及较低的主频。本文描述了雄性凹耳蛙争斗过程中的鸣声特征,可对凹耳蛙雄性之间的竞争过程有更进一步的了解。     

非线性鸣声对雄性凹耳蛙应答的影响

为了解非线性鸣声对凹耳蛙(Odorrana tormota)应答音的影响以及非线性鸣声是否能够增强鸣声的不可预测性,本研究通过回放非线性鸣声和线性鸣声来刺激陌生雄性凹耳蛙,并记录应答次数及统计分析应答音相关参数。结果表明,回放非线性鸣声时会引起陌生蛙(n=22)更多次数的应答,但两种刺激引起的首次应答时间没有显著差异。对应答音相关参数分析表明,线性鸣声引起的应答音在总时长上比非线性鸣声引起的应答音更长且具有显著差异,而其他声音参数(包括平均基频、最大基频、最小基频、主频)均没有显著差异。推测当陌生雄蛙听到同类鸣叫时,出于保护领地和资源的本能反应,陌生蛙都会第一时间作出反应,因此在两类声音的应答反应时间上并没有区别。而在应答次数上,非线性鸣声引起了凹耳蛙更多次数的应答,可能是由于鸣声中的非线性现象使得声音更加复杂,包含更多信息,容易提高声音接收者对这类声音的关注度。本研究结果表明,凹耳蛙鸣声中包含的非线性现象能够增强其声音的不可预测性,引起陌生蛙产生更多的应答次数。     

泽陆蛙(Fejervarya limnocharis)两性异形的个体发育和雌体繁殖

2010年3月下旬-7月上旬于浙江富阳市农田采集680只泽陆蛙(Fejervarya limnocharis),研究了泽陆蛙成体和幼体的个体大小和局部形态特征的两性异形;通过解剖雌体获得窝卵数、测量抱对个体获得形态数据,研究了雌体大小与生育力关系以及抱对两性个体体形大小的相关性.结果表明:捕获个体中,雌性和雄性成体的最小体长分别为33mm和30 mm;雄性成体个体数显著超过雌性成体,两性幼体个体数无显著差异;两性成体头部大小、四肢长随体长呈同速增长,眼径和体重随体长呈异速增长,两性幼体所有被检形态特征均随体长呈同速增长;雌性成体平均体长显著大干雄性成体,去除体长差异的影响后发现,除眼径无显著的两性差异外,其余被检形态特征均为雌性大于雄性;幼体除雌性体重大于雄性外,其余被检形态特征均无两性差异;窝卵数与雌体大小(体长和体重)呈显著的正相关;两性抱对个体的体长无显著相关性;泽陆蛙雄性成体体形小于雌性成体的个体大小两性异形模式可能决定于驱使雄性向较大体形发展的进化驱动力相对较弱,雌性增大体形可增加繁殖输出,故向较大体形发展的进化驱动力相对较强;除体重外,其余被检形态特征的两性异形均形成于性成熟之后.     

噪音环境下花臭蛙求偶鸣声特征分析

2012年7月份,在黄山浮溪地区利用超声录音设备录制并分析了繁殖季节雄性花臭蛙(Odorrana schmackeri)个体的求偶鸣声。观察发现花臭蛙繁殖活动主要集中在7月中旬,繁殖高峰期活动无昼夜规律,全天均可见求偶鸣叫及抱对产卵等行为,并且多在浅水滩处活动。花臭蛙鸣声根据音节数和声谱特征可分为4种类型:即单音节音、婴儿音、双音节音和多音节断奏音,其中,单音节音、双音节音和婴儿音较为常见。利用Selena软件给出4种声音的语图以及各自对应的能谱图,利用Sound Analysis pro v1.2对单音节音、双音节音和婴儿音的鸣声特征参数进行定量分析,分析的声音参数包括鸣叫持续时间、音节数、音节持续时间、音节间隔、主频、脉冲率等。结果表明,花臭蛙鸣声的主频范围为1.8~4.5 k Hz(n=65)。鸣声不包括超声组分,主频峰值(3.1±0.7)k Hz,与前人电生理实验所得花臭蛙听觉敏感峰值一致,说明花臭蛙主要在这一频段进行通讯。对3种常见鸣叫音声音参数的单因素方差分析结果表明,双音节音与单音节音和婴儿音在声音持续时间上存在显著性差异(P0.01),双音节音和单音节音在第二谐波声强上也具有显著性差异(P=0.01)。花臭蛙的双音节音在3种常见鸣叫音中具有最长的持续时间,为(99.5±8.4)ms,故推测,双音节音为花臭蛙繁殖期主要求偶鸣声,并通过其鸣声时长的变化来体现自身品质的好坏。     

红蹼树蛙繁殖期鸣声特征及鸣叫节律

鸣叫是无尾两栖类声音通讯的重要环节之一。许多蛙类的鸣叫行为具有节律性,且受温度和湿度的影响。为研究红蹼树蛙(Rhacophorus rhodopus)的鸣声特征和鸣叫节律,2016年5—6月,采用录音机和指向性话筒,在野外录制了61只雄性红蹼树蛙的鸣声,并通过悬挂录音笔和自动温湿度记录仪研究其鸣叫节律(22 d)。结果发现:红蹼树蛙的鸣声分为单音节和多音节(音节数2~20;平均6.27±2.94)2种类型。与多音节鸣声的主频(2213.32±106.95 Hz)、音节时长(14.83±1.27 ms)和音节间隔(60.66±8.56 ms)相比,单音节鸣声的主频(2289.87±120.14 Hz)、音节时长(16.93±1.68 ms)和音节间隔(610.99±178.48ms)显著升高(P0.05),而2种鸣声的基频(单音节鸣声:212.51±21.63 Hz;多音节鸣声:225.39±26.80 Hz)无显著差异(P0.05)。红蹼树蛙每晚19:00至次日03:00具有鸣叫行为,22:00为高峰期。结果表明:红蹼树蛙主要通过改变鸣声的主频、音节时长、音节间隔以及音节数提高声音通讯效率。红蹼树蛙的鸣叫行为具有昼夜节律,且在一定程度上受温度和湿度的影响。     

雌性凹耳蛙生育力与体型参数间相关性及其配对模式

为了探究雌性凹耳蛙(Odorrana tormota)生育力与体型参数之间是否存在相关性,测量了黄山浮溪地区23只排卵后雌蛙的体重、体长、头长、头宽、前臂宽、前肢及指长、前肢长、后肢全长、胫长等9个体型参数,并计数每只雌蛙的窝卵数。相关性分析显示,雌蛙的窝卵数和9个体型参数值均呈正相关性(P 0.05),体长和其他8个体型参数值均呈现正相关性(P 0.05),以体长为控制变量,偏相关分析显示,窝卵数和体重呈正相关性(P 0.05),故具有较长的体长、较重的体重特征的雌蛙,可以携带更多的卵,具有更强的生育能力。不同雌蛙个体间的窝卵数差异较大,平均窝卵数为(646.5±37.6)枚(590～706枚)。大个体雌蛙具有更强的生育力、更大的繁殖输出,可能是导致凹耳蛙两性间异形程度较大(雌大雄小)的重要驱动力。为了探究抱对雌、雄凹耳蛙之间的配对模式,测量了21对抱对雌、雄蛙的上述9个体型参数,分析显示,抱对雌、雄间9个体型参数值均不存在相关性(P 0.05),未发现凹耳蛙在性选择的过程中采用选型配对模式,雌性凹耳蛙可能倾向雄蛙非体型的品质特征,比如鸣叫声等。     

Territoriality and Male Mating Success in the Dart-poison Frog,Epipedobates femoralis (Dendrobatidae,Anura)

The social and reproductive behaviour of the dart-poison frog, Epipedobates femoralis, was studied in Amazonian Peru for 14 months. Males defended territories with advertisement calls and, ultimately, fighting. Territory size ranged from 0.25 to 26 m² and was positively correlated with duration of residence and calling activity of the owner. Females were not territorial and were never attacked when approaching calling males. Males and females only mated once and females sampled calling males before mating. Male mating success was closely correlated with territory size and calling activity. No correlation was found between male body size and mating success. Territories provide residents with sufficient space for mate attraction and reproduction without interference from rivals. Since territory size is dependent on calling activity which involves high energetic costs, it is suggested that territory size reveals male quality.     

Age-dependent changes in calling effort in the bell cricket <Emphasis Type="Italic">Meloimorpha japonica</Emphasis>

We investigated how male age and body weight influence male mating effort in the bell cricket Meloimorpha japonica. We adopted a longitudinal approach to study resource allocation to male mating effort (calling duration during 24 h) in the bell cricket. Calling durations and body weight of each male were measured at 7–8 days (young age), 14–15 days (middle age), and 22–25 days (old age) after the final molt. Calling duration increased between young and middle age. During the period between middle and old age, the amount of change in the calling duration was positively correlated with the body weight. The results suggested that older (i.e., low residual reproductive value) and better quality males invested more resources in mating effort.     

影响大猿叶虫交配持续时间的因素

为了探明影响大猿叶虫Colaphellus bowringi Baly交配持续时间的因素,在室内系统观察了一天中的交配起始时间、日龄、交配经历、体重、雄虫密度和温度对交配持续时间的影响.结果表明：一天中不同时间交配的成虫,其交配持续时间有显著差异,在上午8:00的交配持续时间最长,随着时间的推移,交配持续时间逐渐缩短,两者之间呈负相关.不同日龄成虫的交配持续时间有显著差异,且与成虫日龄呈明显的正相关.当雄虫与有交配经历的雌虫交配,其交配持续时间明显长于与未交配的雌虫交配,但雄虫的交配经历对交配持续时间没有影响.交配持续时间随着雌、雄体重的增加而延长,但没有显著差异.在雄虫高密度条件下的交配持续时间明显短于低密度下的交配持续时间.在22℃时成虫的交配持续时间最长,其次是25℃,28℃下最短, 温度间的交配持续时间有明显差异.这些结果表明在自然条件下大猿叶虫的交配持续时间受到许多因素的影响.     

Territory size as a main driver of male-mating success in an Amazonian nurse frog (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Allobates paleovarzensis</Emphasis>, Dendrobatoidea)

In polygamous mating systems, it is most often males that compete for the opposite sex, using strategies to provide access to as many females as possible. Females, on the other hand, constitute the sex that exerts the choice and so require a means of accessing the quality of a potential partner in comparison to its competitors. A common challenge in sexual selection studies is to identify the most relevant trait for mating success, since many are correlated with each other. In addition, little is known about how the female accesses the aspects related to male quality. In this context, we tested the role of different male characteristics on mating success in a natural environment using the Amazonian frog Allobates paleovarzensis as a model. A multiple linear regression model showed a positive relationship between territory size and number of male matings, while calling persistence was slightly related to the mating success. We did not detect a relation of the number of matings with the distance to the nearest body of water nor with male body size. Additionally, we observed that territory size was not related to calling persistence, but had a positive relation with the duration of the couple’s courting process. Thus, we conclude that: (1) territory size is the main determinant of male-mating success, and this is not correlated with the other attributes tested; and (2) females access the size of the males’ territory through the courting process that precedes oviposition.     

Female Contests for Nest Sites and Mates in the Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca

Predictions of game theory models about the outcome of animal conflicts have most often been tested using male contests for mates, territories or food. We studied female contests for nest sites and mates in the pied flycatcher, Ficedula hypoleuca, and asked which factors affect the outcome and duration of the contests. Conflicts over residency were experimentally induced, but natural cases in which both females regarded themselves as owners were also included in the analyses. The ensuing escalated contests involved physical fighting, defence of the nestbox of the male and alarm calling. Contrary to expectations from game theory, fighting seemed to occur most often at the start of conflicts, whereas alarm calling occurred towards the end and nestbox visits throughout the conflict. The outcome of the contests was not determined by asymmetries in body size or age, nor by a simple previous-present owner asymmetry. Instead, it depended on the relative residence times of the opponents. The duration of the contests tended to increase with decreasing asymmetry in the residence times of females, whereas body size asymmetries had no influence. Because there is intense competition between females for a mate in the pied flycatcher, we suggest that females do not respect asymmetries in residency and body size, but fight in relation to the value of the mating opportunity. In particular, we point to the possibility that the value of a mating opportunity may increase with residence time because knowledge of other mating options may become outdated.     

棉铃虫成虫对高浓度性信息素的行为反应

室内行为实验表明,在高浓度性信息素环境中棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) 雌蛾更加活跃、觅偶行为更加积极主动、求偶时间显著延长,而雄蛾主动求偶时间显著缩短、静止时间显著延长。高浓度性信息素并未引起成虫在取食活动和产卵行为的明显改变,也未能有效阻断其交配行为,而是推迟了它们的交配日期、夜间初始交配时间,缩短了交配蛾的交配持续时间。因此,高浓度性信息素主要影响其交配质量,而不是交配率。     

The influence of male and female body size on copulation duration and fecundity in Drosophila melanogaster

We studied two components of the mating system, copulation duration and early fecundity, in relation to body size in Drosophila melanogaster. Body size variation was created experimentally by varying the degree of crowding (starvation) among larvae from an inbred strain, keeping the genetics and temperature as constant as possible. Hence, in contrast to most previous studies, where genetic and environmental variation have been confounded, we aimed at investigating how much pure phenotypic variation could influence copulation duration and early fecundity. It is shown that copulation duration and fecundity both strongly dependent on female body size, but either not or much less so on male body size. Small females mate faster than medium or large females and small females have the lowest fecundity. Among males, medium-size males are more fecund than smaller or larger males, resulting in stabilising selection for intermediate male size. These results are in contrast with previous findings.     

FEMALE CHOICE FOR AN INDICATOR OF MALE SIZE IN THE SONG OF THE BLACK-HORNED TREE CRICKET,OECANTHUS NIGRICORNIS (ORTHOPTERA: GRYLLIDAE: OECANTHINAE)

The calling song of male crickets, including Oecanthus nigricornis (Walker), attracts females for mating and provides a model system of sexual communication. We give the first conclusive identification of a feature of cricket song that is both attractive to females and indicates a phenotypic feature (body size) that determines male mating success and female reproductive benefits. We do this by first testing for correlations between song characteristics and aspects of male phenotype that are hypothesized to indicate male quality. We show that song is a reliable indicator of male size and male age, and that large male size is associated with increased female fecundity. We then use playbacks of synthetic songs that mimic natural variation in song parameters to study song preferences and we compare preferences under different presentation regimes to determine whether choices are based on relative song quality or some fixed criterion. Females show a preference for the lower frequency songs produced by large males, but only during simultaneous playbacks. Thus female choice is based on the relative quality of calls that can be sampled simultaneously. These results provide strong support for the hypothesis that females use variation in calling song to assess male mate quality.     

The effect of hunger on mating behaviour and sexual selection for male body size in Gerris buenoi

The set of mating behaviours expressed by an individual may depend upon the state of that individual and local environmental conditions. Understanding how these factors affect mating behaviours may elucidate how a mating system operates, and its consequences for the form and strength of sexual selection. We conducted two experiments on the water striderGerris buenoi to (1) determine the effect of hunger on the mating behaviour of both sexes and (2) examine female choice for large males. In our first experiment, we manipulated hunger (20 h starvation) in both sexes and recorded mating, male harassment, copulation duration and guarding duration. We predicted that hunger would increase female reluctance to mate because mating conflicts with foraging. Female hunger (20 h starvation) decreased mating rate by two-thirds but had no significant effect on male mating behaviour. In a second experiment, we examined the effect of female hunger, and resulting reluctance, on sexual selection for large male size. Hungry females (5 h starvation) were placed with two fed males (one large, one small) and we recorded male premating and mating behaviours. We observed significant large-male mating advantage when females were hungry, but not when satiated. Mating efforts (harassment, premating struggles) were similar for both male phenotypes in both female hunger treatments, suggesting that the mating advantage of large males resulted from increased reluctance of hungry females to mate. Neither male body size nor female hunger explained a significant amount of variation in copulation duration or guarding duration. We discuss our results in light of two competing hypotheses for female choice (active and passive) on male body size and suggest that passive choice for large males acts in this system. Copyright 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd on behalf of The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour     

Ejaculate traits in relation to male body size in the eastern mosquitofish Gambusia holbrooki

In the present study, the correlation between sperm number, sperm quality (speed, viability, longevity and length), sperm bundles quality (size and dissolving rate) and male body size has been tested in the eastern mosquitofish Gambusia holbrooki a poecilid species characterized by coercive mating tactics where males do not possess obvious ornaments, and the body size is the key determinant of pre‐copulatory male mating success. The results do not tally with theoretical predictions. Indeed, no correlation between male body size and either sperm or sperm‐bundle traits has been found, evidencing the lack of the theoretically expected trade‐off between the investment in characters involved in mate acquisition and the investment in ejaculate quality. An explanation for the observed pattern comes from the extremely dynamic mating system of G. holbrooki, characterized by variable size‐related male mating success and strong post‐copulatory selective pressure, with all males facing a similar high level of sperm competition. In this situation, a higher investment in growth and maintenance at the expense of ejaculate quality is not expected. These results underscore the necessity to comprehend detailed information on species’ reproductive biology and reproductive environment to understand both the evolution of ejaculate characteristics and possible deviations from theoretical predictions.