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Substrate‐borne vibrations are ubiquitous in nature and are used by diverse taxa to communicate and to obtain information about their environments. However, substrate‐borne vibrations remain understudied compared with other sensory and signaling modalities, in part due to human sensory biases. In addition, understanding and quantifying the transmission of vibrations remains a challenging task due to it being dependent on both signal properties and properties of the substrates that the signals transmit through. Here, we provide methods for playing back and measuring the transmission of vibrations throughout a substrate. Using linear resonant actuators, we conducted playbacks of pure tones and frequency sweeps on wooden dowels and on the stems of potted Ptelea trifoliata L. (Rutaceae) plants. We used scanning laser Doppler vibrometry to measure the signals at multiple locations along the length of the dowels and plant stems. We demonstrate that playback of a frequency sweep yields more data in a shorter amount of time than multiple playbacks and measurements of pure tone signals. Our results are also consistent with previous findings showing that signals produce frequency and location specific minima and maxima (nodes and antinodes) throughout the substrates, rather than simply attenuating with distance. This results in filtering of signals, such that their spectra are unique at any given measurement location—illustrating the importance of measuring vibrations at multiple locations. We discuss the implications of such filtering phenomena for vibrationally signaling animals and the biotremologists that study them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many insect species communicate about activities central to their survival and reproduction via vibrational signals (i.e., waves that travel through solid substrates). One widely used and effective approach for testing hypotheses about communication is the playback experiment, in which stimuli are played to focal organisms and their responses are documented. Recent technological advances and efforts by vibrational communication researchers have diversified the hardware options available for use in such experiments, but proprietary software is still needed for high‐fidelity playbacks. Here, we present an open‐source software tool, VibePy, that (1) measures and compensates for undesired filtering and (2) calibrates playback amplitude. Because proprietary software licenses impose economic barriers that can limit access to research, we have developed VibePy in the open‐source language Python. The functions provided by VibePy are a stepping stone toward increasing access to vibration research. Because the tool is open‐source, we hope that the software will be expanded upon by others in the community of researchers studying vibrational communication and insect behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An analysis of the mating calls of two groups of anuran amphibians, the Bufo and the Pseudacris, revealed differences in their call characteristics. The study of the acoustic characters and sound production showed that female bufonids preferred longer and faster call rates, while calls of female hylids were characterized by rapid changes in frequency modulation. The results suggest that call patterns of the two groups can be used as basis for studying their evolution.