Female pond frog vocalisation deters sexual coercion by males

• Published in: Behavioural processes Vol. 210; p. 104905
• Main Author: Itoh, Makoto M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.08.2023
• Subjects: Acoustic communication; Anuran; Breeding behaviour; Female vocalisation; Frog; Sexual coercion; Acoustic communication; Female vocalisation; Sexual coercion; Frog; Breeding behaviour; Anuran
• ISSN: 0376-6357; 1872-8308
• DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2023.104905

Avoiding sexual-conflict-induced sexual coercion is crucial for females, especially in anurans, where the necessity of sexual coercion counterstrategies is increased because of their strong male-male competition and external fertilisation. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the recently discovered female Pelophylax nigromaculatus calls prevent male courtship and prevented sexual coercion. By observing the reproductive behaviour of anurans, this study examined when females emitted calls and how males responded to them, while comparing the reproductive conditions of call-emitting and non-call-emitting females. The results of this study revealed that females without eggs which were assumed to finish spawning emitted calls in response to male approaches, and the males subsequently moved away from the females obediently. This suggests that female P. nigromaculatus calls work as a counterstrategy against male sexual coercion. This countermeasure communication was first identified in anurans, suggesting that they engage in more complex bidirectional vocal communication during the breeding season than previously assumed. •After spawning (“without eggs”) female individuals of the frog Pelophylax nigromaculatus emit calls in the presence of males.•Male individuals move away from calling females.•Female individuals prior to spawning (“with eggs”) do not vocalise and allow males to approach and mate.