The Effect Of Body Size, Temperature On The Calls Of The Giant Spiny Frog(Paa Spinosa) And Its Geographical Variation

Acoustic signaling is the most important form of communication in frogs. The calling behaviors in frogs have lots of functions: identification among different species, gathering and defense, attraction of conspecific females, courtship display, and so on. But the calls of some species are highly variable, due to lots of factors.Paa spinosa, is the frogs of the Paini in one of the most widely distributed in China. Preliminary molecular data indicate that the species may exist cryptic species, but further research is needed. The acoustic research is to reveal the the P. spinosa biological diversity means one, but only requires a comprehensive understanding of the species acoustic parameters and other factors (such as the relationship between environmental factors, body size, etc.). Individual positioning, admitted to the call of different males P. spinosa individual determination of the environmental characteristics (temperature) and the frog’s own form of indicators, analysis of the acoustic characteristics of the individual parameters, clarify the acoustic characteristic parameters P. spinosa body size and temperature. On this basis, the determination of the geographic populations of the three P. spinosa (Lanxi Zhejiang, Jixi Anhui, Yongxiu Jiangxi) of advertisemenrt call, analysis of the differences of the three geographic populations of P. spinosa acoustic parameters for the the song reveals the species diversity of frogs hidden for the beneficial exploration.Experiment1: In order to study the relationship between environmental factors and body size and male P. spinosa call characteristics in artificial bionic culture conditions, measure air temperature and body temperature, and the body size (weight and length), and by individual location, recorded mating call which during breeding males of P. spinosa, analysis of call parameters. The results showed that: male P. spinosa call characteristics measured were not correlate with body weight, body length, but the call duration, note duration were negative correlate with air temperature, water temperature, body temperature, cloacal temperature. Research results suggest, carry out the P. spinosa acoustic research should pay attention to the impact of temperature.Experiment2:]n the artificial conditions, by recording the advertisement call and we found that there were difference in advertisement call between Paa spinosa (from eastern part of China, mainly from Jinhua Zhejiang, Jixi Anhui, Yongxiu Jiangxi) and Paa yunnanensis (collected in Qujing Yunnan) in the breeding period, especially the call duration and note number. Three populations of P. spinosa showed different characteristics in their calls between different populations, intraspecific and interspecies. They produced a number of different notes of the call and showed different parameters of call characteristics, whereas there was no significant difference in the structure. We also found that there were eight notes of song in the advertisement call of P. spinosa from Jixi, particular some calls. The major difference was a longer interval between the initial note and the second note.