DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Cues and Signals - Vibrational Information in Two Life Stages of the Red-Eyed Treefrog

动物从社会信号中提取信息的策略可能与它们从非社会环境中提取信息的策略不同。 本研究比较了评估胚胎和成年红眼树蛙使用的振动线索和信号的策略。胚胎利用振动信号来探测捕食者，并逃跑，但必须将这些振动与无害的干扰（如雨水）区分开来。 在雄鸟争夺呼叫地点时，雄鸟会用一种戏剧性的信号振动自己的身体。 因此，有独特的机会：（一）比较战略提取信息的振动信号和线索在相同的环境中使用，（二）研究如何振动信息是由胚胎和成人使用相同的青蛙物种，（三）研究脊椎动物的振动通信。 拟议的研究重点是新发现的成人振动显示。 这个信号的结构，以及它所包含的信息，将使用视频和振动记录男性之间的侵略性互动进行调查。 然后，信号的视觉和振动部分将被回放给青蛙，以探索这些部分如何相互作用以携带信息，测试振动是否有助于雄性定位信号对手，并测试雄性是否注意信号频率和持续时间。 比较动物解释信号和线索的方式将有助于我们理解信号是如何进化的。 该项目还通过开发记录和回放振动的新技术，为新兴的生物振动研究领域做出更广泛的贡献。 这项研究为波士顿和巴拿马的美国本科生和高中生提供了参与的机会。 PI致力于通过专业和教育演示以及与纪录片媒体项目的合作，向学术界和公众广泛传播成果。

The strategies that animals use to extract information from social signals likely differ from the strategies that they use to extract information from the non-social environment. This study compares strategies for assessing vibrational cues and signals used by embryo and adult red-eyed treefrogs. Embryos use vibrational cues to detect predators, and to escape, but must distinguish these vibrations from harmless disturbances, such as rain. Adults vibrate their bodies in a dramatic signal used during contests between males over calling sites. Thus, there are unique opportunities to: (i) compare strategies for extracting information from vibrational signals and cues used in the same environment, (ii) examine how vibrational information is used by embryos and adults of the same frog species, (iii) study vibrational communication in vertebrates. The proposed research focuses on the newly discovered vibrational display of adults. The structure of this signal, and the information it contains, will be investigated using video and vibration recordings of aggressive interactions between males. Then, visual and vibrational parts of the signal will be played back to frogs to explore how these parts interact to carry information, to test whether vibrations help males locate signaling rivals, and to test whether males pay attention to signal frequency and duration. Comparing the ways animals interpret signals and cues will help us understand how signals evolve. This project also contributes more broadly to the emerging field of biological vibrations research by developing novel techniques for recording and playback of vibrations. The research provides opportunities for participation of US undergraduates and high school students in Boston and Panama. The PIs are committed to broad dissemination of results to both the academic community and the public through professional and educational presentations as well as cooperation with documentary media projects.