Avian Alarm Calls Do Not Induce Anti-Predator Response in Three Anuran Species

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Many birds and mammals are capable of eavesdropping on heterospecific alarm calls, yet it remains unclear whether other taxa (e.g., amphibians) can exploit such acoustic signals. Here, we tested whether three anuran species showed anti-predator response (e.g., escaping behavior) to territory song and different alarm calls of Japanese Tits (Parus minor). We found that all species performed no response to the territory song and alarm calls. In spite of negative results, this study provides valuable information on the cognitive processes of amphibian species. ABSTRACT: Many species produce alarm calls in response to predators, and the anti-predator signals are often used by other species. Eavesdropping on heterospecific alarm calls has been widely found in bird and mammal species. Other taxa, such as reptiles and amphibians, however, receive limited attention at present. Here, we selected three types of alarm calls of Japanese Tits (Parus minor) that were evoked by the Siberian Chipmunk (Eutamias sibiricus), Eurasian Sparrow Hawk (Accipiter nisus), and model snake (Elaphe spp.), respectively, and then carried out playback experiments to test whether three frog species changed their behaviors in response to the three treatments of Japanese Tit calls while the tit’s territory song was used as a control. The results showed that Little Torrent Frogs (Amolops torrentis), Ornamented Pygmy Frogs (Microhyla fissipes) and Spot-legged Treefrogs (Polypedates megacephalus) did not jump off their positions in response to the same four acoustic signals. They also did not change their calling behaviors in response to the alarm calls of Japanese Tits. This study found no evidence that these anuran species can eavesdrop on heterospecific tits’ alarm signals.