Call Trait Variation in Morelett's Tree Frog, Agalychnis moreletii, of Belize

Abstract

Abstract Calling behavior and the properties of a male's call directly affect mate choice and mating success in frogs. In this study, I investigated the difference in call properties within and among males of Agalychnis moreletii at a breeding population in Belize. As a first step toward understanding female preference for specific male advertisement calls, I examined the variation of call traits from 575 calls of 30 individuals. I described and quantified call properties both within and among males and examined the relationship between mating success and body size. All of the call traits that I examined exhibited significantly higher among-male variation than within-male variation. Static call properties such as dominant frequency and call amplitude had the lowest variation within and among males. Dominant frequency was negatively correlated with body size, supporting a body-size constraint for this call trait. Call properties such as call rates, mean pulses per call, and call durations displayed greater...