Since the time of the Tainos, the vibrant song of the coqui has long been a symbol of Puerto Rican culture. But, in addition to being emblematic, its song carries an important warning about the health of wild ecosystems, and now Puerto Rican researchers are using it to monitor local forests and contribute to conservation efforts.
Like the loudest amphibian in the worldThe Puerto Rican coquí has a ubiquitous presence throughout the archipelago. But in recent years, researchers have been able to observe changes in how these frogs communicate with each other. For example, research They have found that coquíes are getting smaller and are croaking with higher pitches due to the climate change.
These studies employ the science of bioacoustics –the study and monitoring of the production, transmission, and reception of animal sounds– to study natural environments. Sounds produced by animals, from the song of the coquí to that of birds and crickets, transmit valuable information about the state of an ecosystem.
“This system of making stationary recordings allows us to obtain all this information that was previously going to be super impossible for us”the doctor stressed Gisela Crespo Martinezresearcher at the University of Puerto Rico (UPR), Río Piedras Campus, explaining that the opportunity to listen to the forest in a natural environment – that is, without human presence – makes all the difference when studying its ecosystems.
Crespo Martínez is researching the melodious coquí, one of 14 species of coquís that remain in Puerto Rico, out of the 17 that previously existed. As part of the initiative, the team is studying biological aspects of the frog, such as its size, jumping ability and song. This data allows us to learn more about the challenges faced by the endemic animal, as well as the changes its environment is undergoing.
In this way, Bioacoustic techniques allow science to listen to the heartbeat of the archipelago and seek ways to preserve it.
“We know these animals as bioindicators. That means that they will let us know how our ecosystem is doing, and they are good at letting us know that,” explained Crespo Martínez.
The researcher demonstrated this process using recordings of coquís singing in the forest. In a recording from the hot, humid season, several species of coquíes can be heard at night. In contrast, in the recording of the forest during the cold and dry season, a clear decrease in songs is noticeable.
This is because the coquí, being an amphibian, is extremely sensitive to changes such as humidity and temperature. “An amphibian that is in extreme dryness, specifically those that need humidity for oxygen to pass through to their skin, then they are not going to be well,” Crespo Martínez stressed in an interview with The New Day.
These frogs rely on microhabitats – the smallest parts of an ecosystem that contain distinctive flora and fauna – to regulate their bodily processes. Because of this, climate change may have pronounced effects on the biological activities of coquíes.
The song, above all, provides information about how the coquí is being affected by changes in the climate. “Songing absorbs metabolic energy in an incredible way,” Crespo Martínez stressed. This is why, when the coquí is being negatively impacted by environmental changes, the first thing that changes is its song.
In addition to being a loss of an important cultural aspect for the Puerto Rican people, this decline has real implications for the mental health. Recent studies have shown that natural sounds, such as animal songs, are vital for relieving stress and anxiety. This may have contributed to the European Environment Agency declare noise pollution the second most harmful to public health.
Crespo Martínez is currently in the process of publishing the results of his studies. With this information, the scientist hopes that the government and environmental organizations can better understand Which regions are important? and what measures to take to preserve it in Puerto Rico.