Behavioural patterns, preference, and motivation of female midwife toads during phonotaxis tests |
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Authors: | Jaime Bosch Rafael Márquez Luz Boyero |
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Institution: | (1) Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain, |
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Abstract: | During two-speaker phonotaxis tests performed with female midwife toads (Alytes obstetricans and A. cisternasii), the occurrence of behavioural patterns tentatively considered to be associated with entering amplexus and making a mate
choice was noted. The individual repeatability of choice was assessed as a measurement of reliability of female preference,
and the individual repeatability of response was assessed as a measurement of the degree of female motivation. The tests were
grouped in two categories, spectral and temporal, according to the acoustic variable addressed in the test. Females selecting
the alternative chosen less often by the population responded less often in phonotaxis tests and thus could be less motivated.
Female repeatability was significant for temporal tests, but not for spectral tests. The observation of behavioural patterns
during phonotaxis tests appears to be a useful complement to mate choice studies in anurans.
Electronic Publication |
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Keywords: | Behavioural patterns Phonotaxis Midwife toads Alytes obstetricans Alytes cisternasii Mate choice |
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