Communication in the Neotropical hylid, Smilisca phaeota: Call variation, signal recognition, mate discrimination and male calling behavior

I report the results of a series of studies on the communication behavior of the Neotropical hylid, Smilisca phaeota. The S. phaeota advertisement call is highly variable and contains traits that are correlated with male body weight after controlling for size. An analysis of female preferences and recognition behaviors suggests that recognition and discrimination processes are complex and are unlikely to exist along a simple gradient. Female preferences for two correlated traits also interact strongly with male calling behavior. Female preferences differ depending on whether they assess two calls in an alternating or overlapping situation. Male S. phaeota actively time their calls to overlap or avoid overlap with the calls of their neighbors. The interaction of male behaviors and female preferences produces a fluctuating preference function and an apparent overall effect of disruptive sexual selection on the combined variation of two male call traits.