Urban sensory conditions alter rival interactions and mate choice in urban and forest túngara frogs

Sexual communication often takes place in networks with multiple competing
signalers being simultaneously assessed by mate choosers. Altered sensory
conditions, such as noise and light pollution, can affect communication by
altering signal production and perception. While evidence of sensory
pollution affecting sexual signaling is widespread, few studies assess
impacts on sexual signaling during rival interactions as well as mate
choice, let alone whether urban and non-urban populations have diverged in
their response. Here, we investigate the effects of urban sensory
conditions on sexual communication in urban and forest túngara frogs
(Engystomops pustulosus). We recorded dyadic vocal rival interactions and
assessed mate choice with and without noise and light pollution in the
lab. We show that urban sensory conditions can directly impact the
intensity of rival interactions, differences between rivals and mate
choice, though changes were often in opposite directions for frogs of
urban and forest origins. Moreover, we demonstrate that urban-induced
changes in rival interactions can also indirectly affect how females
choose between potential mates. Our study reveals origin-dependent direct
and indirect effects of noise and light pollution, and suggests local
adaptation of sexual communication in urban populations.