@article {57388,
	title = {Opportunity for female choice in the wild is frequently curtailed by low male trait variation in Hyla versicolor},
	year = {2019},
	abstract = {<p>To understand the efficacy of female choice in driving the evolution of male displays, we need to not only characterize preferences but examine the opportunity for the expression of such preferences. Mate assessment by females should be constrained if the relative attractiveness of multiple displays is perceived as equal because trait differences between them are indistinguishable. This is expected to result in apparently arbitrary mate choice, and knowledge about the frequency of such mating patterns is crucial in predicting the strength of sexual selection. Here, we examine discrimination abilities of female Hyla versicolor in the context of actual male-male chorus variation. We found that roughly half of mating encounters in the wild do not provide the call variation required for the expression of female preferences (non-arbitrary choice). Interestingly, the trait for which female H. versicolor shows the strongest preference during playback trials (call duration) is not the trait whose difference will most often be detectable to females in the wild (call rate). Furthermore, we document individual variation in discrimination ability, with some females being able to discriminate multiple traits, while others only focus on one trait. This suggests that the relatively high estimate of arbitrary mating is not only due to females struggling to discriminate natural local variation overall but due to an abundance of individuals with limited discrimination abilities that require encounters with males that differ in the specific trait they will discriminate. Lastly, small trait differences between males do not arise from nearest neighbors plastically altering their calls to be more similar. These findings provide insights on the frequently observed mismatch between laboratory phonotaxis and actual mating success in the wild.</p>
},
	keywords = {acoustic communication, Female choice, mate preference, Random mating, sexual selection},
	doi = {10.1007/s00265-019-2666-z},
	url = {http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s00265-019-2666-z},
	author = {Stratman, Kane D. and H{\"o}bel, Gerlinde}
}
@article {52571,
	title = {Complex signals and comparative mate assessment in wolf spiders: results from multimodal playback studies},
	journal = {Animal Behaviour},
	volume = {134},
	year = {2017},
	month = {Jan-12-2017},
	pages = {283 - 299},
	abstract = {<p>Complex signals of animals involve multiple sensory modes and contain multiple structural components, and teasing apart how these modes and components interact in receiver decision making is an experi- mental challenge. Females of many species have ordered preferences for increased size or expression of male indicator traits. However, studies also suggest other species may exhibit comparative evaluation of mates rather than absolute preference hierarchies. We examined mate assessment by female wolf spi- ders, Schizocosa ocreata, using digital playback of video and vibratory/seismic signals in preference and choice tests of male trait differences. In playback experiments, female wolf spiders showed ordered preferences for male condition indicating traits (leg tuft size, vibration signal amplitude) in both indi- vidual sensory modes and multimodal (combined) signals. Tests with single modes and multimodal signals showed that trait expression in either signal mode affects outcome of mate choice. Females exhibited transitive preferences, consistently choosing males with larger tuft size or higher amplitude vibration in no-choice and two-choice tests. Thus, female S. ocreata do not necessarily need to compare mates to exhibit preferences for particular traits. Choice tests with multimodal playback showed that females made predicted choices when male traits covaried positively, but in \&lsquo;cue-conflict\&rsquo; (negative trait covariance) choice tests, females showed a bias for visual signal trait expression (tuft size), displaying priority for visual signals over vibratory signals when in conflict. These studies demonstrate that under controlled experimental conditions, differences in behavioural responses to manipulation of digital video and vibration playback can provide valuable insights about recognition and interpretation of complex signals and their components.</p>
},
	keywords = {complex signals, Lycosidae, mate preference, multimodal communication, sexual selection, vibratory playback, video playback},
	issn = {00033472},
	doi = {10.1016/j.anbehav.2017.02.007},
	url = {http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0003347217300441},
	author = {Uetz, George W. and Stoffer, Brent and Lallo, Madeline M. and Clark, David L.}
}
