Citation
Bat predation and sexual advertisement in a neotropical anuran
TL;DR
Tungara frog calls attract both female frogs and predatory bats
This foundational study on tungara frogs established the principle that acoustic signals involve trade-offs between attracting desired receivers (mates) and undesired receivers (predators). Males that add attractive 'chuck' components to their calls are more successful with females but also more likely to be eaten by frog-eating bats.
This research underpins the concept of costly signaling: signals that are risky or expensive to produce are more honest because only high-quality individuals can afford them. For organizations, investments in communication infrastructure (like NTT's redundancy) serve as costly signals of commitment.
Key Findings from Ryan et al. (1982)
- Tungara frog calls attract both female frogs and predatory bats
- Males adjust call complexity based on predation risk
- Chuck components preferred by females also attract bat predators
- Signal honesty maintained by predation cost - only fit males can afford risky calls