Parasite defensive limb movements enhance acoustic signal attraction in male little torrent frogs

Longhui Zhao, Jichao Wang, Haodi Zhang, Tongliang Wang, Yue Yang, Yezhong Tang, Wouter Halfwerk, Jianguo Cui*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

    Abstract

    Many animals rely on complex signals that target multiple senses to attract mates and repel rivals. These multimodal displays can however also attract unintended receivers, which can be an important driver of signal complexity. Despite being taxonomically widespread, we often lack insight into how multimodal signals evolve from unimodal signals and in particular what roles unintended eavesdroppers play. Here, we assess whether the physical movements of parasite defense behavior increase the complexity and attractiveness of an acoustic sexual signal in the little torrent frog (Amolops torrentis). Calling males of this species often display limb movements in order to defend against blood-sucking parasites such as frog-biting midges that eavesdrop on their acoustic signal. Through mate choice tests we show that some of these midge-evoked movements influence female preference for acoustic signals. Our data suggest that midge-induced movements may be incorporated into a sexual display, targeting both hearing and vision in the intended receiver. Females may play an important role in incorporating these multiple components because they prefer signals which combine multiple modalities. Our results thus help to understand the relationship between natural and sexual selection pressure operating on signalers and how in turn this may influence multimodal signal evolution.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article numbere76083
    Pages (from-to)1-17
    Number of pages17
    JournaleLife
    Volume11
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 6 May 2022

    Bibliographical note

    Funding Information:
    We thank Yanlin Cai, Xiaoqian Sun, and Xiaofei Zhai for their help during the field recordings. This work was supported by Sichuan Science and Technology Program (2022JDTD0026), National Natural Science Foundation of China (31772464), Youth Innovation Promotion Association CAS (2012274), and CAS 'Light of West China' Program.

    Publisher Copyright:
    ‍@ Zhao et al.

    Funding

    We thank Yanlin Cai, Xiaoqian Sun, and Xiaofei Zhai for their help during the field recordings. This work was supported by Sichuan Science and Technology Program (2022JDTD0026), National Natural Science Foundation of China (31772464), Youth Innovation Promotion Association CAS (2012274), and CAS 'Light of West China' Program.

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