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Variation in nocturnal light levels does not alter mate choice behavior in female eastern gray treefrogs (Hyla versicolor)

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Abstract

Nocturnal light levels vary throughout the course of the lunar cycle, being darkest during the new moon and brightest during the full moon. Many nocturnal animals change their behavior in response to this natural variation in moonlight intensity. Frequently, these behavioral changes can be attributed to the way in which moonlight affects the ability of predators to spot potential prey. Mate sampling females may expose themselves to predators, making mate choice a behavior likely influenced by moonlight. Because mate choice is an important cause of sexual selection, understanding the causes of variation in mate choice decisions can yield a better understanding of the strength and direction of sexual selection under natural conditions. We predicted that female eastern gray treefrogs (Hyla versicolor) would prefer longer calls (i.e., more attractive males) and/or be choosier, under darker conditions, because cover of darkness may aid in predator evasion. However, light treatment did not affect how females responded to variation in call duration, nor did it affect female choosiness or aspects of their approach behavior. This suggests that in gray treefrogs, variation in light levels associated with the changing phases of the moon does not alter the sexual selection regime on male call traits.

Significance statement

Looking for the perfect mate can be very dangerous, especially when environmental conditions make it more likely to be spotted by potential predators. Changes in mate choice behavior associated with predator exposure is quite common in nature, yet have rarely been examined in connection with the drastic variation in nocturnal illumination associated with the changing phases of the moon. We investigated whether females of a nocturnal treefrog change their behavior depending on whether they look for mates under simulated new moon or full moon conditions. We found that females preferred longer calls under both conditions, and that they also did not move more stealthily during bright compared to dark conditions. Our results suggest that males with long calls always have a mating advantage, and that sexual selection by female choice is uniformly strong across the lunar cycle.

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Acknowledgements

We thank D. Neelon, R. Gremminger, A. Heesacker, C. Robertson, and T. Trinklein for assistance in the field and in running playback trials. Staff at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Field Station gave logistical support, and Nancy and Michael Byers graciously allowed us to collect frogs on their land. We also thank the reviewers for their time and suggestions on this manuscript.

Funding

The study was indirectly supported by the Office of Undergraduate Research of the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, by providing SURF fellowships to a number of undergraduate students.

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  1. Behavioral and Molecular Ecology Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, 53211, USA

    Victoria A. Underhill & Gerlinde Höbel

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  1. Victoria A. Underhill
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  2. Gerlinde Höbel
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Correspondence to Victoria A. Underhill.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethics statement

All applicable national and institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed. We received ethical clearance from the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (protocol number 15–16 #43).

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All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article [and its supplementary information files].

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Communicated by K. Summers

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Underhill, V.A., Höbel, G. Variation in nocturnal light levels does not alter mate choice behavior in female eastern gray treefrogs (Hyla versicolor). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 71, 151 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-017-2386-1

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