02008nas a2200241 4500008004100000245005600041210005600097520131200153653001201465653003301477653002401510653001601534653002701550653002101577653003401598653001901632653001801651100001201669700001601681700002301697700000501720856004101725 2018 eng d00aBehavioral and neural auditory thresholds in a frog0 aBehavioral and neural auditory thresholds in a frog3 a

Vocalizations play a critical role in mate recognition and mate choice in a number of taxa, especially, but not limited to, orthopterans, frogs, and birds. But receivers can only recognize and prefer sounds that they can hear. Thus a fundamental question linking neurobiology and sexual selection asks— what is the threshold for detecting acoustic sexual displays? In this study we use three methods to assess such thresholds in túngara frogs: behavioral responses, auditory brainstem responses, and multi-unit electrophysiological recordings from the midbrain. We show that thresholds are lowest for multi-unit recordings (ca. 45 dB SPL), and then for behavioral responses (ca. 61 dB SPL), with auditory brainstem responses exhibiting the highest thresholds (ca. 71 dB SPL). We discuss why these estimates differ and why, as with other studies, it is unlikely that they should be the same. Although all of these studies estimate thresholds they are not measuring the same thresholds; behavioral thresholds are based on signal salience while the two neural assays estimate physiological thresholds. All three estimates, however, make it clear that to have an appreciation for detection and salience of acoustic signals we must listen to those signals through the ears of the receivers.

10aanurans10aauditory brainstem responses10aauditory thresholds10amate choice10aPhysalaemus pustulosus10asexual selection10asignal recognition thresholds10atĂșngara frogs10avocalizations1 aRyan, C1 aAkre, Karin1 aWilczynski, Walter1 a uhttps://bio.acousti.ca/nn/node/5341401984nas a2200217 4500008004100000245010900041210006900150260001600219300001400235490000800249520129800257653002701555653001501582653001501597653001801612100002201630700002201652700002301674700001501697856005401712 2017 eng d00aResponses of male cricket frogs ( Acris crepitans) to attenuated and degraded advertisement calls0 aResponses of male cricket frogs iAcris crepitansi to attenuated  cJan-05-2017 a357 - 3640 v1233 a

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.

10aacoustic communication10aaggression10aamphibians10acricket frogs1 aVenator, Kurt, R.1 aRyan, Michael, J.1 aWilczynski, Walter1 aKoenig, W. uhttp://doi.wiley.com/10.1111/eth.2017.123.issue-5