Intraspecific advertisement call variation of Scinax fuscomarginatus (Lutz, 1925) from Central Brazil

Quantitative analysis of the acoustic communication system in anurans is a relevant step toward understanding how acoustic traits variation is related to conspecific recognition and discrimination. Here, we report on the advertisement call variation of male Scinax fuscomarginatus at three levels: within-individual, between-individual, among-populations. We examined 635 advertisement calls of 127 individuals from 10 populations in Central Brazil. Fieldworks were carried out during eight breeding seasons, from 2008 to 2016. We used the coefficient of variation (CV), Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) to evaluate whether the call features differed statistically. The advertisement call structure consisted of a single multipulsed note with stereotyped acoustic features. These features were statistically different at between-individual level and the relative variability (CV) was higher between-individual than within-individual of the same population. MANOVA performed with PCA scores indicates that call traits are different among populations. Hence, we suggest the advertisement call features of male S. fuscomarginatus show sufficient statistical differences for interindividual and interpopulation distinction. We also discuss the role of the stereotyped acoustic features on mate choice and intraspecific distinction.