Call Discrimination, Mate Assessment, and Male-Male Vocal Competition in an Anuran Amphibian

自然界中动物的交流包括在嘈杂的环境中探测重要信号。在灰树蛙的交配合唱中，雄性鸣叫试图吸引配偶，雌性必须在大量竞争的鸣叫中区分，并利用这些声学信息在竞争的雄性中进行选择，这是在嘈杂环境中研究这种信号区分的理想环境。这项提议的研究还将提高我们对自然界中配偶评估和雄性之间竞争的理解。灰树蛙的雌性只根据声音标准来选择配偶。在竞争激烈的合唱环境中，雄性会改变自己的叫声，实验室实验表明，这应该会提高它们的吸引力。然而，我们不知道雌性在合唱的复杂声学环境中如何评估雄性，也不知道为什么某些叫声模式更受青睐。男性之间声音竞争的细节以及这些细节与男性状况之间的关系也没有被理解。这项研究利用基于实地的雌性选择测试和雄性发声的实验室研究，除了解决嘈杂环境中信号检测的一般问题外，还将有助于回答这些问题。实验将使用基于计算机的交互式回放系统，这构成了一种应用于动物交流研究的新方法。

9727623 Schwartz Animal communication in nature involves detection of important signals in a noisy environment. In gray tree frog mating choruses calling males attempt to attract mates, females must discriminate among large number of competing calls and use this acoustic information to choose among competing males making this an ideal setting in which to investigate such signal discrimination in a noisy environment. The proposed research will also improve our understanding of mate assessment in nature and competition among males. Females of the gray treefrog base their choice of mate solely on acoustic criteria. In the intensely competitive environment of a chorus, males change their calls in a way that laboratory experiments suggestshould improve their attractiveness. However, we don t know how well females can assess males in the complex acoustic environment of a chorus or why certain patterns of calling are preferred. Nor are the fine details of the vocal competition that occurs among males or the relationship between these details and male condition understood. This research, using field-based tests of female choice and laboratory studies of male vocalizations, will help answer these questions in addition to addressing the general problem of signal detection in a noisy environment. Experiments will use a computer-based interactive playback system, that constitutes a new methodology for application to studies of animal communication.