{"id":12164,"date":"2025-07-28T11:14:12","date_gmt":"2025-07-28T09:14:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.caribaea.org\/?p=12164"},"modified":"2025-08-27T12:32:04","modified_gmt":"2025-08-27T10:32:04","slug":"soundscapes-reveal-new-clues-about-a-critically-endangered-cuban-frog","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.caribaea.org\/en\/soundscapes-reveal-new-clues-about-a-critically-endangered-cuban-frog\/","title":{"rendered":"Soundscapes reveal new clues about a Critically Endangered Cuban frog"},"content":{"rendered":"

What if listening to the forest could help us protect its most elusive inhabitants? In Cuba, a tiny frog with a very restricted range\u2014Eleutherodactylus bartonsmithi<\/em>\u2014has become the focus of an innovative conservation study based on sound.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"

The newly constructed road cutting through the Yumur\u00ed forest. \u00a9 Sergio del Castillo<\/p><\/div>\n

The little Cuban frog Eleutherodactylus bartonsmithi<\/em>, found only in a small forested area near the Yumur\u00ed River Canyon, was already known to be Critically Endangered. But following a major hurricane and the construction of a 4.5 km road through its habitat, scientists feared for its survival. To assess the situation, Caribaea Initiative-supported student Mariam Curbelo Cruz led a study using a non-invasive technique: passive acoustic monitoring.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Using sound to study biodiversity<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n

Passive acoustic monitoring involves placing sound recorders in the field to capture natural sounds over long periods. These devices record all the surrounding soundscapes, including animal vocalizations. The data can then be analyzed to detect specific species or assess their activity levels.<\/p>\n

Several projects led or supported by Caribaea Initiative have been using these tools recently. For example, in the ESPACYPA project<\/a>, dedicated to the study of bird communities in Guadeloupe and Martinique, dozens of autonomous recorders have been deployed<\/a> across various habitats. They help us detect elusive birds, monitor their seasonal patterns or record their distribution. Combined with other tools like camera traps, acoustic monitoring provides a powerful, non-intrusive way to study wildlife.<\/p>\n

In Mariam\u2019s study, five recorders were installed in different parts of the frog\u2019s known habitat and operated during three distinct months (February, June, and October).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Findings and observations<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n
\"\"

Mariam Curbelo Cruz adjusting an acoustic recorder during fieldwork in Cuba.<\/p><\/div>\n

The analysis revealed that the frog\u2019s vocal activity peaked in October, especially at dawn between 5:00 and 7:00 AM, when males formed powerful choruses to attract mates.<\/p>\n

Surprisingly, the highest levels of activity were recorded near the newly built road. This suggests that the frog may be more tolerant of habitat disturbance than previously thought, or that edge habitats might offer favorable conditions\u2014an observation that warrants further investigation.<\/p>\n

This research, based on Mariam\u2019s research during her master\u2019s studies<\/a>, represents the first use of soundscape analysis to monitor a Critically Endangered amphibian in Cuba. Beyond providing new data on E. bartonsmithi<\/em>, it sets the stage for broader conservation efforts using acoustic tools\u2014whether to monitor other amphibians or completely different species from the Caribbean.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

References<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n

Curbelo Cruz, M., del Castillo Dom\u00ednguez, S., Machado, L.G., Herrera Rodeiro, A. Mancina, C.A., Bosch, R.A. (2025). A soundscape approach for a short-term acoustic monitoring of a critically endangered Cuban frog. Biodiversity and Conservation, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s10531-025-03056-3<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What if listening to the forest could help us protect its most elusive inhabitants? In Cuba, a tiny frog with a very restricted range\u2014Eleutherodactylus bartonsmithi\u2014has become the focus of an innovative conservation study based on sound.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":6687,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12164","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nSoundscapes reveal new clues about a Critically Endangered Cuban frog - Caribaea Initiative<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.caribaea.org\/en\/soundscapes-reveal-new-clues-about-a-critically-endangered-cuban-frog\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Soundscapes reveal new clues about a Critically Endangered Cuban frog - Caribaea Initiative\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"What if listening to the forest could help us protect its most elusive inhabitants? 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