Risky ripples allow bats and frogs to eavesdrop on a multisensory sexual display

Area of Science:

• Animal communication
• Sensory ecology
• Bioacoustics

Background:

• Animal signals are often perceived through multiple sensory systems.
• Incidental cues from signal production can be detected by various receivers.
• This multisensory perception can lead to unexpected costs and benefits for signalers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how multimodal signals influence receiver behavior in túngara frogs.
• To determine if signal by-products, like water ripples, affect predator attraction.
• To understand the interplay between acoustic and visual cues in animal communication.

Main Methods:

• Experimental manipulation of acoustic and water ripple signals in túngara frog calls.
• Observing the behavioral responses of rival male frogs to modified calls.
• Testing the predatory behavior of fringe-lipped bats (Trachops cirrhosus) towards model frogs emitting different signal types.

Main Results:

• Male túngara frog vocalizations increased twofold when call-induced water ripples were added to the acoustic signal.
• Fringe-lipped bats preferentially attacked model frogs when ripples were present with acoustic signals.
• Water ripples serve as a perceivable by-product that influences both conspecific and predator interactions.

Conclusions:

• Multimodal signal perception, including incidental by-products, significantly impacts animal interactions.
• Signal by-products can create both advantages and disadvantages for signalers, as demonstrated by túngara frogs.
• This research highlights the complex ecological dynamics shaped by sensory systems and signal evolution.