Interactive and independent effects of light and noise pollution on sexual signaling in frogs
Urbanization drastically changes environmental conditions, including the introduction of sensory pollutants, such as artificial light at night (ALAN) and anthropogenic noise. To settle in urban habitats, animals need to cope with this new sensory environment. On a short timescale, animals might cope...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-08-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.934661/full |
| _version_ | 1818084222238195712 |
|---|---|
| author | Judith A. H. Smit Andrew D. Cronin Isabelle van der Wiel Bas Oteman Jacintha Ellers Wouter Halfwerk |
| author_facet | Judith A. H. Smit Andrew D. Cronin Isabelle van der Wiel Bas Oteman Jacintha Ellers Wouter Halfwerk |
| author_sort | Judith A. H. Smit |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Urbanization drastically changes environmental conditions, including the introduction of sensory pollutants, such as artificial light at night (ALAN) and anthropogenic noise. To settle in urban habitats, animals need to cope with this new sensory environment. On a short timescale, animals might cope with sensory pollutants via behavioral adjustments, such as changes in sexual signaling, which can have important fitness consequences. While ALAN and anthropogenic noise generally co-occur in urban habitats and are known to be able to interact to modify behavioral responses, few studies have addressed their combined impact. Our aim was, therefore, to assess the effects of ALAN, anthropogenic noise, and their interaction on sexual signaling in túngara frogs (Engystomops pustulosus). We observed the calling behavior of frogs in urban and forest areas, and subsequently recorded these frogs in a laboratory set-up while independently manipulating light and noise levels. Frogs in urban areas called with a higher call rate and complexity, which was correlated with local sensory conditions. Furthermore, our lab experiment revealed that ALAN can directly alter sexual signaling independently as well as in combination with anthropogenic noise. Exposure to ALAN alone increased call amplitude, whereas a combination of ALAN and anthropogenic noise interacted to lead to a higher call complexity and amplitude. Overall, the response patterns consistently showed that exposure to ALAN and anthropogenic noise led to more conspicuous sexual signals than expected based on the additive effects of single pollutants. Our results support the notion that urban and forest population differences in sexual signaling can be partially explained by exposure to ALAN and anthropogenic noise. Furthermore, by demonstrating interactive effects between light and noise pollution, our study highlights the importance of examining the effects of multisensory pollution, instead of single pollutants, when trying to understand phenotypic divergence in urbanized vs. natural areas. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T19:50:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-490af75e3db6467f96c5a14fafb3a22f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-701X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T19:50:27Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-490af75e3db6467f96c5a14fafb3a22f2022-12-22T01:35:48ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution2296-701X2022-08-011010.3389/fevo.2022.934661934661Interactive and independent effects of light and noise pollution on sexual signaling in frogsJudith A. H. Smit0Andrew D. Cronin1Isabelle van der Wiel2Bas Oteman3Jacintha Ellers4Wouter Halfwerk5Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, NetherlandsVrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, NetherlandsVrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, NetherlandsDutch Butterfly Conservation, Wageningen, NetherlandsVrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, NetherlandsVrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, NetherlandsUrbanization drastically changes environmental conditions, including the introduction of sensory pollutants, such as artificial light at night (ALAN) and anthropogenic noise. To settle in urban habitats, animals need to cope with this new sensory environment. On a short timescale, animals might cope with sensory pollutants via behavioral adjustments, such as changes in sexual signaling, which can have important fitness consequences. While ALAN and anthropogenic noise generally co-occur in urban habitats and are known to be able to interact to modify behavioral responses, few studies have addressed their combined impact. Our aim was, therefore, to assess the effects of ALAN, anthropogenic noise, and their interaction on sexual signaling in túngara frogs (Engystomops pustulosus). We observed the calling behavior of frogs in urban and forest areas, and subsequently recorded these frogs in a laboratory set-up while independently manipulating light and noise levels. Frogs in urban areas called with a higher call rate and complexity, which was correlated with local sensory conditions. Furthermore, our lab experiment revealed that ALAN can directly alter sexual signaling independently as well as in combination with anthropogenic noise. Exposure to ALAN alone increased call amplitude, whereas a combination of ALAN and anthropogenic noise interacted to lead to a higher call complexity and amplitude. Overall, the response patterns consistently showed that exposure to ALAN and anthropogenic noise led to more conspicuous sexual signals than expected based on the additive effects of single pollutants. Our results support the notion that urban and forest population differences in sexual signaling can be partially explained by exposure to ALAN and anthropogenic noise. Furthermore, by demonstrating interactive effects between light and noise pollution, our study highlights the importance of examining the effects of multisensory pollution, instead of single pollutants, when trying to understand phenotypic divergence in urbanized vs. natural areas.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.934661/fullcommunicationsexual signalsurbanizationartificial light at night (ALAN)anthropogenic noisemultisensory pollution |
| spellingShingle | Judith A. H. Smit Andrew D. Cronin Isabelle van der Wiel Bas Oteman Jacintha Ellers Wouter Halfwerk Interactive and independent effects of light and noise pollution on sexual signaling in frogs Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution communication sexual signals urbanization artificial light at night (ALAN) anthropogenic noise multisensory pollution |
| title | Interactive and independent effects of light and noise pollution on sexual signaling in frogs |
| title_full | Interactive and independent effects of light and noise pollution on sexual signaling in frogs |
| title_fullStr | Interactive and independent effects of light and noise pollution on sexual signaling in frogs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Interactive and independent effects of light and noise pollution on sexual signaling in frogs |
| title_short | Interactive and independent effects of light and noise pollution on sexual signaling in frogs |
| title_sort | interactive and independent effects of light and noise pollution on sexual signaling in frogs |
| topic | communication sexual signals urbanization artificial light at night (ALAN) anthropogenic noise multisensory pollution |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.934661/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT judithahsmit interactiveandindependenteffectsoflightandnoisepollutiononsexualsignalinginfrogs AT andrewdcronin interactiveandindependenteffectsoflightandnoisepollutiononsexualsignalinginfrogs AT isabellevanderwiel interactiveandindependenteffectsoflightandnoisepollutiononsexualsignalinginfrogs AT basoteman interactiveandindependenteffectsoflightandnoisepollutiononsexualsignalinginfrogs AT jacinthaellers interactiveandindependenteffectsoflightandnoisepollutiononsexualsignalinginfrogs AT wouterhalfwerk interactiveandindependenteffectsoflightandnoisepollutiononsexualsignalinginfrogs |