Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Science 19 June 1998:
Vol. 280. no. 5371, pp. 1928 - 1930
DOI: 10.1126/science.280.5371.1928
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Reports

Call Duration as an Indicator of Genetic Quality in Male Gray Tree Frogs

Allison M. Welch, * Raymond D. Semlitsch, H. Carl Gerhardt

The "good genes" hypothesis predicts that mating preferences enable females to select mates of superior genetic quality. The genetic consequences of the preference shown by female gray tree frogs for long-duration calls were evaluated by comparing the performance of maternal half-siblings sired by males with different call durations. Offspring of male gray tree frogs that produced long calls showed better performance during larval and juvenile stages than did offspring of males that produced short calls. These data suggest that call duration can function as a reliable indicator of heritable genetic quality.

Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
*   To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: awelch{at}biosci.mbp.missouri.edu

Read the Full Text


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Female choice for optimal combinations of multiple male display traits increases offspring survival.
L. T. Lancaster, C. A. Hipsley, and B. Sinervo (2009)
Behav. Ecol. 20, 993-999
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Female mate choice across spatial scales: influence of lek and male attributes on mating success of blue-crowned manakins.
R. Duraes, B. A. Loiselle, P. G. Parker, and J. G. Blake (2009)
Proc R Soc B 276, 1875-1881
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Experimental evidence for paternal effects on offspring growth rate in Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus).
E. M. Eilertsen, B.-J. Bardsen, S. Liljedal, G. Rudolfsen, and I. Folstad (2009)
Proc R Soc B 276, 129-136
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Viability of brown trout embryos positively linked to melanin-based but negatively to carotenoid-based colours of their fathers.
C. Wedekind, A. Jacob, G. Evanno, S. Nussle, and R. Muller (2008)
Proc R Soc B 275, 1737-1744
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Female mating preferences for male morphological traits used in species and mate recognition in the Mexican sailfin mollies, Poecilia velifera and Poecilia petenensis.
H. L. Kozak, L. A. Cirino, and M. B. Ptacek (2008)
Behav. Ecol.
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Good genes sexual selection in nature.
J. A. Byers and L. Waits (2006)
PNAS 103, 16343-16345
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Costly but worthless gifts facilitate courtship.
P. D Sozou and R. M Seymour (2005)
Proc R Soc B 272, 1877-1884
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Hamilton and Zuk meet heterozygosity? Song repertoire size indicates inbreeding and immunity in song sparrows (Melospiza melodia).
J. Reid, P. Arcese, AliceL.E.V Cassidy, A. Marr, JamesN.M Smith, and L. Keller (2005)
Proc R Soc B 272, 481-487
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Increased performance of offspring sired by parasitic males in bluegill sunfish.
B. D. Neff (2004)
Behav. Ecol. 15, 327-331
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Sexual selection in the wolf spider Hygrolycosa rubrofasciata: female preference for drum duration and pulse rate.
S. Parri, R. V. Alatalo, J. S. Kotiaho, J. Mappes, and A. Rivero (2002)
Behav. Ecol. 13, 615-621
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Male traits under cryptic female choice in the spotted cucumber beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae).
D. W. Tallamy, B. E. Powell, and J. A. McClafferty (2002)
Behav. Ecol. 13, 511-518
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Female preference functions based on call duration in the gray tree frog (Hyla versicolor).
H. C. Gerhardt, S. D. Tanner, C. M. Corrigan, and H. C. Walton (2000)
Behav. Ecol. 11, 663-669
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Female spadefoot toads compromise on mate quality to ensure conspecific matings.
K. S. Pfennig (2000)
Behav. Ecol. 11, 220-227
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Fiction, Reality, and Molecular Neurology.
H. M. Fathallah-Shaykh (2000)
Arch Neurol 57, 63-64
   Full Text »    PDF »
Male Attractiveness and Differential Testosterone Investment in Zebra Finch Eggs.
D. Gil, J. Graves, N. Hazon, and A. Wells (1999)
Science 286, 126-128
   Abstract »    Full Text »
Heritability of body mass, a sexually selected trait, in an arctiid moth (Utetheisa ornatrix).
V. K. Iyengar and T. Eisner (1999)
PNAS 96, 9169-9171
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Female multiple mating, inbreeding avoidance, and fitness: it is not only the magnitude of costs and benefits that counts.
D. J. Hosken and W. U. Blanckenhorn (1999)
Behav. Ecol. 10, 462-464
   Full Text »    PDF »
Evolutionary game theory and multiple chemical sensitivity.
D. B. Newlin (1999)
Toxicology and Industrial Health 15, 313-322
   Abstract »    PDF »
Sexual Selection and Sensory Exploitation.
P. W. Sherman, H. K. Reeve;, and M. J. Ryan; (1999)
Science 283, 1083a-1083
   Full Text »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)