Female preference for variation in male calls in the American toad (Anaxyrus americanus)

Kristin Laurie, Purdue University

Abstract

I investigated female preferences for male breeding vocalizations in playback experiments using females from 3 populations of American toads. Synthesized male calls presented to females differed in two call parameters: dominant call frequency and call duration. Playback experiments utilized a 4-speaker playback protocol with two calls overlapping temporally at any point in time rather than all four calls alternating in sequence. Each female could choose among four call types: low frequency-short calls (1636 Hz-4 sec), low frequency-long calls (1636 Hz-8 sec), high frequency-short calls (2024 Hz-4 sec), and high frequency-long calls (2024 Hz-8 sec). The 33 females tested exhibited neither a preference for any of the four call types presented nor for either dominant call frequency or call duration independently. I also tested for an effect of female size on response and found that female size had no influence on latency to choice or on preference for any call type. I discuss differences in playback experimental designs commonly used in assessing female preference in anurans and how my results from a four speaker design compare to those from a two speaker design.

Degree

M.S.

Advisors

Howard, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Ecology

COinS