Evidence for ecological tuning of anuran biofluorescent signals

Courtney Whitcher (), Santiago R. Ron, Fernando Ayala-Varela, Andrew J. Crawford, Valia Herrera-Alva, Ernesto Fernando Castillo-Urbina, Felipe Grazziotin, Randi M. Bowman, Alan R. Lemmon and Emily Moriarty Lemmon
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Courtney Whitcher: Department of Biological Science
Santiago R. Ron: Escuela de Ciencias Bioloógicas
Fernando Ayala-Varela: Escuela de Ciencias Bioloógicas
Andrew J. Crawford: Department of Biological Sciences
Valia Herrera-Alva: Departamento de Herpetología
Ernesto Fernando Castillo-Urbina: Departamento de Herpetología
Felipe Grazziotin: Laboratório de Coleções Zoológicas
Randi M. Bowman: Department of Biological Science
Alan R. Lemmon: Department of Scientific Computing
Emily Moriarty Lemmon: Department of Biological Science

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-17

Abstract: Abstract Although biologists have described biofluorescence in a diversity of taxa, there have been few systematic efforts to document the extent of biofluorescence within a taxonomic group or investigate its general significance. Through a field survey across South America, we discover and document patterns of biofluorescence in tropical amphibians. We more than triple the number of anuran species that have been tested for this trait. We find evidence for ecological tuning (i.e., the specific adaptation of a signal to the environment in which it is received) of the biofluorescent signals. For 56.58% of species tested, the fluorescence excitation peak matches the wavelengths most abundant at twilight, the light environment in which most frogs are active. Additionally, biofluorescence emission spans both wavelengths of low availability in twilight and the peak sensitivity of green-sensitive rods in the anuran eye, likely increasing contrast of this signal for a conspecific receiver. We propose an expanded key for testing the ecological significance of biofluorescence in future studies, providing potential explanations for the other half of fluorescent signals not originally meeting formerly proposed criteria. With evidence of tuning to the ecology and sensory systems of frogs, our results suggest frog biofluorescence is likely functioning in anuran communication.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-53111-w

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