Understanding the Impacts of Sound on Conservation Frogs

Captive breeding is key to saving frog species worldwide. However, the zoo environment, where many species are bred, may be inadvertently increasing the stress levels of frogs due to different types and levels of background noise. In previous studies, researchers found captive frogs modify their vocalizations to better fit the acoustic environment in which they live. Building on these findings, researchers will investigate how the zoo acoustic environment affects captive frog welfare and if altering the sound environment will help frog calls return to their wild type, making them more adaptable for wild release. The team also will work on building a more acoustic-friendly shelter for breeding frogs. Findings have the potential to improve the welfare of hundreds of amphibian species bred around the world in unsuitably noisy captive environments.