Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology ( IF 1.9 ) Pub Date : 2022-04-01 , DOI: 10.1007/s00265-022-03163-z Mary Chang Leverett 1 , Stève S. Desaivre 1, 2 , Shane Conway 1 , Sunny K. Boyd 1 , James D. McLister 3
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Abstract
In anuran amphibians, as well as many other animals, it is common for males to form breeding aggregations where they advertise to females of the same species. For female gray treefrogs (Hyla versicolor), the characteristics of male calls are integral to their preferences while the distance to the males represents a key feature of the required investment. Therefore, the spatial arrangement of males and the quality of their advertisement calls can influence sexual selection processes. We recorded the calls of male gray treefrogs, as well as the spatial position of individuals in the chorus, for aggregations in northern Michigan over three breeding seasons. Males were not randomly distributed across the chorus but showed both clustered patterns and dispersed patterns, depending on the scale of analysis. On active chorus nights, we identified clusters of males and individual males closest to the centers of those clusters (“medoids”) using a novel analytical approach. Medoids displayed some call characteristics that are preferred by females significantly more often than the other members of their clusters and thus may represent “hotshot” males. Non-medoid males in the clusters displayed less preferred call features. Irrespective of overall cluster membership, the size of the chorus (number of males calling per night) and nearest neighbor distances were also correlated with specific call features. We suggest that the smaller clusters within choruses that we identified may represent the spatial scale over which female gray treefrogs sample and choose male mates.
Significance statement
Aggregations of animals for the sole purpose of mating are common and conspicuous occurrences. However, such aggregations provide both costs and benefits to participants. For males, the quality of their displays and spatial location in the aggregation can determine whether they mate at all. Females also face constraints as their preferred mates may represent costly choices. Using an objective point pattern analysis technique, we demonstrated that the male advertisement choruses of the gray treefrog can be subdivided into smaller local groups that contain higher quality males at the center. These local groups display some features of classic “hotshot” style leks and may represent the units females consider for choice of male mates.
中文翻译：
树蛙合唱中空间动力学的社会调制
摘要
在 anuran 两栖动物以及许多其他动物中，雄性通常会形成繁殖聚集体，向同一物种的雌性做广告。对于雌性灰树蛙 ( Hyla versicolor)，男性呼叫的特征是其偏好不可或缺的一部分，而与男性的距离代表了所需投资的一个关键特征。因此，男性的空间排列及其广告呼叫的质量会影响性选择过程。我们记录了雄性灰树蛙的叫声，以及个体在合唱团中的空间位置，以在密歇根州北部三个繁殖季节聚集。男性不是随机分布在合唱团中，而是根据分析的规模显示出聚集模式和分散模式。在活跃的合唱之夜，我们使用一种新的分析方法确定了最接近这些集群中心（“medoids”）的男性集群和个体男性。Medoids 显示出一些女性更喜欢的呼叫特征，这些特征明显比其集群中的其他成员更频繁，因此可能代表“热门”男性。集群中的非中心男性表现出不太喜欢的呼叫特征。无论整体集群成员如何，合唱的大小（每晚呼叫的男性数量）和最近邻居距离也与特定的呼叫特征相关。我们建议，我们确定的合唱中较小的集群可能代表雌性灰色树蛙采样和选择雄性配偶的空间尺度。合唱的大小（每晚呼叫的男性人数）和最近邻距离也与特定的呼叫特征相关。我们建议，我们确定的合唱中较小的集群可能代表雌性灰色树蛙采样和选择雄性配偶的空间尺度。合唱的大小（每晚呼叫的男性人数）和最近邻距离也与特定的呼叫特征相关。我们建议，我们确定的合唱中较小的集群可能代表雌性灰色树蛙采样和选择雄性配偶的空间尺度。
意义陈述
仅出于交配目的而聚集的动物是常见且引人注目的事件。然而，这种聚合为参与者提供了成本和收益。对于雄性来说，它们的展示质量和聚合中的空间位置可以决定它们是否完全交配。女性也面临着限制，因为她们喜欢的伴侣可能代表着代价高昂的选择。使用客观点模式分析技术，我们证明了灰树蛙的雄性广告合唱可以细分为较小的局部群体，其中包含较高质量的雄性在中心。这些本地群体展示了一些经典的“热门”风格的特征，可能代表了女性考虑选择男性配偶的单位。
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