Mate selection in Pacific tree frogs

Abstract

DARWIN1 suggested that, in many animal species, females select mates and that some male courtship displays and secondary sex characters are a product of this sexual selection. Although the importance of sexual selection is generally acknowledged2, only a few studies have shown both that females prefer certain males and also that this preference is a function of male display behaviour, for example, studies of polygamous birds3 and fruitflies4. We have observed that in the Pacific tree frog (Hyla regilla), females mate preferentially with certain males, and that this preference is related to differences between males in calling behaviour.