An Automated Data Logger for Simultaneously Recording Amphibian Vocalizations with Weather Variables

Abstract

Understanding the environmental triggers for the calling behaviour of fauna is an important element of biological and ecological knowledge necessary for devising better monitoring and management strategies for wildlife. Amphibians calling is seasonal and in Australia, mostly limited to Spring-Summer (October-March). An investigation was instigated following numerous records of the Sphagnum Frog Philoria sphagnicola calling during periods outside (July) of the standard survey season (August-December). In response to this observation, a data logger was designed and programmed to detect only the calls of P. sphagnicola. At hourly intervals, the data logger recorded the number of frog calls, mean ambient temperature, relative humidity, rainfall, water temperature and barometric pressure. This device differs from data loggers used in other anuran studies in its capacity to record only those calls of the species that it is programmed to detect. Furthermore, the data logger simultaneously records vital environmental variables that are important in trying to decipher the single or multiple factors that may stimulate calling behaviour.