Browsing by Subject "Condition dependent signals"

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Condition-dependent signaling in a neotropical frog
(2022-05-05) Wilhite, Kyle Osborne; Ryan, Michael J. (Michael Joseph), 1953-; Taylor, Ryan C; Gilbert, Lawrence E; Phelps, Steve M
Communication facilitates almost every interaction between animals. Sexual selection produces signals that happen to be very energetically costly to produce. Only males who are in high condition should be able to produce these signals after basic individual needs are met. Here we investigate the effect of food intake/the ability to forage on condition and how condition influences the production of these sexual signals in the túngara frog. We recorded male calls in acoustic boxes for 9 days. After a period of no food, we found that males change certain aspects of their sexual advertisement call that are usually attractive to females. We then tested to see if females show a preference for a high or low condition male to which they preferred the high condition male. We then show that condition can predict a male’s ability to compete against other males for access to females. Males in low condition call less, make fewer complex calls, show changes in stereotypically sexually selected traits, and are less attractive to females.