Responses of male cricket frogs ( Acris crepitans) to attenuated and degraded advertisement calls

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:2017
Authors:Venator, Ryan, Wilczynski
Secondary Authors:Koenig
Journal:Ethology
Volume:123
Issue:5
Pagination:357 - 364
Date Published:Jan-05-2017
Keywords:acoustic communication, aggression, amphibians, cricket frogs
Abstract:

We examined the vocal and non-vocal responses of male cricket frogs (Acris crepitans) to conspecific advertisement calls that had been attenuated or degraded by reducing the depth of amplitude modulation (AM). Both are characteristic of changes to the call as it is transmitted through natural habitats. As stimulus calls became more intense or less degraded, male cricket frogs gradually decreased their call rate and increased the number of call groups and pulse groups in their calls, changes indicative of increased aggressive interactions. At the higher intensities and lower degradation levels, the probability that males would shift to one of two non-vocal behavioral responses, attacking the perceived intruder or ceasing calling and abandoning the call site, gradually increased. The results show that differences in signal attenuation and AM degradation levels are perceived by males and trigger both vocal and non-vocal behavioral responses consistent with their use in evaluating the distance to a challenging male. Furthermore, the results indicate that the male responses are graded, increasing as intensity rises and degradation falls, and hierarchical, with vocal responses preceding behavioral responses over the range of intensities and degradation levels presented.

URL:http://doi.wiley.com/10.1111/eth.2017.123.issue-5
DOI:10.1111/eth.2017.123.issue-510.1111/eth.12602
Short Title:Ethology
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Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith