Multimodal signal variation in space and time: how important is matching a signal with its signaler?

• DOI: 10.1242/jeb.043638
• Publication Date: 2011-02-09T18:02:58Z
• Authors: Ryan C. Taylor; Barrett A. Klein; Joey Stein; Michael J. Ryan
• Keywords: Variation (astronomy); SIGNAL (programming language)

SUMMARY Multimodal signals (acoustic+visual) are known to be used by many anuran amphibians during courtship displays. The relative degree which each signal component influences female mate choice, however, remains poorly understood. In this study we a robotic frog with an inflating vocal sac and acoustic playbacks document responses of túngara frogs unimodal components (acoustic visual). We then tested synchronous multimodal signal. Finally, the influence spatial temporal variation between for attraction. Females failed approach isolated visual cue they showed significant preference call over spatially separate frog. When presented that was temporally inflation frog, females did not show alone; when asynchronous discriminated strongly against in favor alone. Our data suggest although is neither necessary nor sufficient attraction, it can modulate choice if perceive disjunction primary