Observing Reaction Times in Spring Peeper Mating Calls after Interruption of a Threat

• Maya MacDonald

  Juniata College

  Author

The purpose of this study was to observe spring peeper [Pseudacris crucifer] behavior and record the reaction times to the potential disturbance of the synthesized threats. We used 3 different tests that were designed to disrupt their mating calls on a low acoustic level. We tested using recorded owl calls on a small portable speaker, rustling undergrowth and shrubbery neared an identified subject, and talked loudly, all while recording the effects and whether there was any change. Silence was used as a control. The results of the experiment showed that the rustling test had the highest average time, taken in seconds, for spring peepers to resume their calls after being disturbed.

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