Investigating the Role of Male Calling in Túngara Frog Courtship within Close-Range Interactions

Abstract

Amphibians exhibit diverse reproductive strategies, and acoustic signaling in anuran mating systems is traditionally seen as a mechanism for mate attraction. However, recent observations suggest that male calling may also act as a neuroendocrine trigger to precondition females for oviposition. This study examines whether male túngara frog calls serve only to attract a mate into clasping range or if they also facilitate reproductive synchronization. To address this, we conducted experiments placing male-female pairs in small, isolated breeding enclosures under two conditions: (1) a control group with no additional auditory stimuli and (2) an experimental group exposed to continuous playback of male advertisement calls. Time-lapse photography and behavioral scoring were used to document courtship interactions. Ongoing research will test whether males adjust their calling in response to playback when a female is at close range, providing insight into the potential dual role of advertisement calls in the túngara frog’s courtship