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May 28 2025
8Female frogs have long been overlooked in the study of amphibian vocalizations, according to a new meta-analysis by researchers from the Universidade de São Paulo, Red Ecoacústica Colombia, and the University of Missouri System. The study, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, found that research on female frog calls is vastly underrepresented compared to studies on male calls.
Led by biologists Erika Santana, Angela Mendoza-Henao, and Johana Goyes Vallejos, the team conducted an extensive review of existing literature. They searched Google Scholar and Web of Science, initially identifying 2,919 documents relevant to frog vocalizations. After refining their selection, only 108 studies were deemed suitable for detailed analysis.
From this pool, the researchers found 132 recorded instances of female frog calls across 112 species—accounting for a mere 1.43% of known frog species. This reveals a significant gap in scientific understanding, as information about the vocal behavior of 98.6% of female frogs remains unknown. Moreover, most documented cases were anecdotal, offering limited scientific insight.
The researchers suggest one major reason for this disparity is the volume difference in calls—male frogs are typically much louder, often overshadowing the quieter calls of females during field observations. This auditory imbalance may have contributed to the skew in research focus.
With amphibians increasingly threatened by environmental changes, the researchers stress the urgency of broadening the scope of vocalization studies. Understanding female frog calls—especially if linked to reproduction—could be crucial for conservation strategies. The study underscores the need for improved methodologies that ensure both male and female calls are adequately recorded and analyzed.
Source:https://phys.org/news/2025-05-understudied-unheard-female-frogs-attention.html
This is non-financial/medical advice and made using AI so could be wrong.
