Browsing by Subject "Anurans"

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    Data supporting "Neural Basis of Acoustic Species Recognition in a Cryptic Species Complex"
    (2021-08-14) Gupta, Saumya; Alluri, Rishi K; Rose, Gary J; Bee, Mark A; gupta333@umn.edu; Gupta, Saumya; University of Minnesota Animal Communication Lab
    Sexual traits that promote species recognition are important drivers of reproductive isolation, especially among closely related species. Identifying neural processes that shape species differences in recognition is crucial for understanding the causal mechanisms of reproductive isolation. Temporal patterns are salient features of sexual signals that are widely used in species recognition by several taxa, including anurans. Recent advances in our understanding of temporal processing by the anuran auditory system provide an excellent opportunity to investigate the neural basis of species-specific recognition. The anuran inferior colliculus (IC) consists of neurons that are selective for temporal features of calls. Of potential relevance are auditory neurons known as interval-counting neurons (ICNs) that are often selective for the pulse rate of conspecific advertisement calls. Here, we took advantage of a species differences in temporal selectivity for pulsatile advertisement calls exhibited by two cryptic species of gray treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis and Hyla versicolor) to test the hypothesis that ICNs mediate acoustic species recognition. We tested this hypothesis by examining the extent to which the threshold number of pulses required to elicit behavioral responses from females and neural responses from ICNs was similar within each species but potentially different between the two species. The associated data for this work is being released prior to submission of the manuscript for peer review.
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    Evaluation of the potential effects of methoprene and Bti on anuran malformations in Wright County, MN
    (University of Minnesota Duluth, 2001) Johnson, Catherine M; Johnson, Lucinda B
    An increasing number of amphibians from around the globe have been reported with deformations and malformations of the eyes, mandibles and internal organs as well as missing, abnormally shaped, abnormally pigmented, or multiple limbs. For the purposes of this document, the terms “deformation” and “malformation” are defined as in a recent USGS publication entitled, “Field Guide to the Malformations of the Frog and Toad” (Meteyer et. al. 2000a). Thus, the term deformation refers to alterations in form or structure that occur later in development, resulting from mechanical factors such as amputation. “A deformation does not involve an intrinsic defect in morphogenesis and impacts a structure that is otherwise developing normally.” The term malformation refers to “errors in any phase of morphogenesis including cell proliferation, cell migration, differentiation, programmed cell death or regression of larval structures.” This report is primarily concerned with malformations and their possible connection with the use of either methoprene or Bacillus thuringiensis var. israeliensis (Bti) in developing Rana pipiens (northern leopard frogs) in central Minnesota.