Auditory morphology of the túngara frog
Poster Number
07C
Format
Poster Presentation
Faculty Mentor Name
Marcos Gridi-papp
Faculty Mentor Department
Biological Sciences
Abstract/Artist Statement
Frogs communicate using sound either in air or under water. Species which communicate under water (pipids) have an expanded, disc-shaped extrastapes as opposed to a thin cartilage behind the eardrum. Preliminary dissections indicate that the túngara frog may exhibit a similar disc of cartilage. This disc as well as female responses to the male in water indicates that túngara frogs may have auditory specializations to hear under water. In order to assess the 3D structure of the expanded extrastapes, we embedded ears of the túngara frog in resin and produced histological sections. We tried various decalcification times and microwave treatments to identify a suitable protocol for túngara frog ears. Preliminary sections confirm that the extrastapes has a broad attachment to the eardrum in the shape of a cartilaginous disc. This structure shares its main features with those of underwater specialists strengthening the evidence for underwater communication in túngara frogs. The study of their auditory morphology, hearing sensitivity and biomechanics will shed novel light into the evolution of communication systems when animals cross the boundaries between media.
Location
DeRosa University Center, Ballroom
Start Date
29-4-2017 10:00 AM
End Date
29-4-2017 12:00 PM
Auditory morphology of the túngara frog
DeRosa University Center, Ballroom
Frogs communicate using sound either in air or under water. Species which communicate under water (pipids) have an expanded, disc-shaped extrastapes as opposed to a thin cartilage behind the eardrum. Preliminary dissections indicate that the túngara frog may exhibit a similar disc of cartilage. This disc as well as female responses to the male in water indicates that túngara frogs may have auditory specializations to hear under water. In order to assess the 3D structure of the expanded extrastapes, we embedded ears of the túngara frog in resin and produced histological sections. We tried various decalcification times and microwave treatments to identify a suitable protocol for túngara frog ears. Preliminary sections confirm that the extrastapes has a broad attachment to the eardrum in the shape of a cartilaginous disc. This structure shares its main features with those of underwater specialists strengthening the evidence for underwater communication in túngara frogs. The study of their auditory morphology, hearing sensitivity and biomechanics will shed novel light into the evolution of communication systems when animals cross the boundaries between media.