Significance of Size, Temperature and Call Attributes to Sexual Selection in Bufo woodhousei australis

Abstract

Advertisement calls of a population of B. woodhousei australis were recorded in the field to determine possible effects of size and temperature on call attributes. Analysis of dominant frequency, pulse rate and duration of advertisement calls revealed that only frequency was correlated (negatively) with size. Observations of the same individuals on successive nights showed there was substantial variation in call attributes independent of temperature. Only pulse rate was correlated (positively) with body temperature; frequency and call duration were independent of body temperature over a 5.degree. C range. Females might distinguish males of different sizes on the basis of frequency, but temperature has no effect on this possible size indicator. These results are discussed in relation to the work of Fairchild (1981) on B. woodhousei fowleri.