Understanding sources of variation in advertisement call attributes in spring peepers (Pseudacris crucifer)
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Authors
Chen, Ying
Date
Type
thesis
Language
eng
Keyword
Heritability , Advertisement Call , Frog , Skeletochronology
Alternative Title
Abstract
The mate recognition system is the foundation of biological speciation in frogs and toads. Sexual selection has been suggested to cause male call evolution, population divergence, and ultimately reproductive isolation. It is generally assumed that a significant fraction of variation in male call has an underlying genetic basis and that there is a link between call attributes and fitness. Yet these are largely unproved assertions in anurans, with many other factors contributing to diversity of calls within a male chorus. Anuran advertisement calls are important in studies of sexual selection, speciation, community acoustic partitioning, as well as phenological studies. In all of these, understanding heritability of calls is prerequisite to understanding evolutionary patterns and potential responses to selection. However, few studies have examined the heritability of advertisement calls in anurans. In general, we know that key aspects of anuran calls, including both temporal and spatial attributes, vary with body size, age, abiotic factors such as temperature and habitat type, and social context, including inter-male competition. In my thesis, I attempt to estimate the heritability of call attributes within a calling assemblage of a temperate treefrog, Pseudacris crucifer, and to quantify the relative contributions of different factors: body size, age, calling temperature and genetics. I used sonographic analysis to assess call variation, skeletochronology to estimate age, and a dataset comprising single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to estimate the relatedness of calling males. I used the animal model to evaluate those factors that may affect call variation. I found that body temperature to be the most important
factor, influencing all six call attributes, and that body size predicted variation in some call attributes. I had insufficient power to derive robust estimates of heritability. By investigating the genetic basis as well as environmental components of variation in advertisement calls, I gained insights on within-population variation and how selection might impact the evolution of anuran calls.
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ProQuest PhD and Master's Theses International Dissemination Agreement
Intellectual Property Guidelines at Queen's University
Copying and Preserving Your Thesis
This publication is made available by the authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research and may not be copied or reproduced except as permitted by the copyright laws without written authority from the copyright owner.