Bioacoustics of Popplepsalta decora

Distribution and Ecology ( Figure 36 ). Widespread throughout sub-humid and semi-arid Queensland into northern New South Wales , extending from east of Hughenden and Snake Creek north of Charters Towers in northern Queensland south to Charleville and Cunnamulla in the west, east to Biggenden and near Gayndah in south-eastern Queensland , and further south to the Boggabilla district in the far north of inland New South Wales . Populations occur in association primarily with box eucalypts (section Adnataria), including E. populnea , E. microcarpa and E. pilligaensis and also other eucalypt species. It is an especially common species in the central highlands of Queensland and along the eastern edge of the mulga bioregion (dominated by Acacia aneura ), although it does not penetrate the mulga lands west of Charleville and Cunnamulla. Adults are present from November to February. Geological and Pedological Associations . Adults generally found associated with trees on sand plains and alluvial areas where soils are derived from weathered sandstone or siltstone. Calling Song ( Figs 2K , 37–38 ). Pauropsalta decora produces a more complex calling song than most other members of the species complex. The lilting component phrases begin with a rattle ( 0.218 –1.670 s) that comprises a long train of two-syllable echemes ( 0.017 –0.024 s), each of which is punctuated by a brief silence ( 0.018 –0.026 s). The last echeme is always followed by a longer silence ( 0.068 –0.263 s) (all statistics, n=28 individuals). The ending of each phrase is comparatively abrupt, with a short echeme ( 0.021 –0.044 s) that is followed by another silence ( 0.062 –0.091 s). The calling song is largely dominated by a monotonous buzzing component that involves an extended version of the rattle at the start of the lilting component. This gives the call a distinct, fluttering quality. It has a pulse repetition rate of 0.370 –1.196 s, syllable repetition rate of 100–120 Hz and highest amplitude dominant frequency of 8.9–11.5 kHz, with a broad plateau between 8.0–15.5 kHz. One instance of male–female duetting behaviour has been recorded for this species. Females respond with a soft wing-flick during the silence at the end of each lilting component phrase ( Fig. 1 ), 0.016 –0.040 s after production of the short echeme.