Bioacoustics of Popplepsalta kobongoides

Distribution and Ecology ( Figure 36 ). Scattered throughout the southern half of inland Queensland from south of Augathella south-east to Weengallon near Moonie, and inland New South Wales from Pilliga State Forest and near Narromine south to Wagga Wagga and west to Mount Hope. It is most prevalent to the north and east of St George in inland southern Queensland and with a population of moderate size to the east of Goolgowi in southern inland New South Wales . Populations occur in association with mixed woodland, acacia woodland and scrub, with several individuals recorded on Acacia salicina . Adults typically occur high on the upper limbs of trees. They are present from November to February. Geological and Pedological Associations . Adults generally associated with plants that occur on sand plains and in alluvial areas where soils are derived from weathered sandstone, siltstone, or mudstone, including sandy loams and clay loams, especially those with little profile development. Calling Song ( Figs 2L , 40–42 ). Pauropsalta kobongoides apparently produces the most complex song of all in the P. annulata species complex. The calling song is dominated by a buzzing component that includes a long initial rattle ( 0.007 – 0.009 s single syllables, punctuated by 0.009 – 0.018 s silences) that is followed by an extended single echeme ( 2.782 – 7.771 s) (all statistics, n=7 individuals). The buzzing component may be repeated many times before the lilting component is produced. The lilting component is emitted only after production of the single echeme at the end of the buzzing component. It comprises a rattle (11–36 single syllables, punctuated by 0.009 – 0.024 s silences; 0.190 – 1.044 s total duration) followed by a silence ( 0.042 – 0.084 s), a brief rattle or single syllable (1–3 (rarely 4) syllables, punctuated by 0.020 – 0.038 s silence; 0.042 – 0.109 s total duration) and finally another silence ( 0.040 – 0.155 s). The phrase repetition rate of the lilting component ranges between 0.314 – 1.190 s. No instances of male–female duetting have been recorded for this species to date. Nevertheless, the lilting component is expected to play an active role in duetting, with the regular silences at the end of each lilting component phrase providing a cue for the female to respond. The calling song of P. kobongoides has a syllable repetition rate 110–140 Hz increasing up to 166 Hz in the extended single echeme that is produced during the buzzing component. The frequency plateau ranges from 7.5–13.0 kHz and a highest amplitude dominant frequency from 8.2–9.8 kHz. The lower end of the plateau modulates by 0.5 kHz during production of the extended single echeme in the buzzing component.