Female Choice Experiments with Túngara Frogs

Assistants are needed for a continuing study of sexual selection and the evolution of the

communication system in the tungara frogs by Dr. Mike Ryan, University of Texas and

Dr. Stan Rand (who recently passed away), Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. The

main part of this study involves conducting female choice experiments for 3 months

(June-August) each wet season. Each year the tungara group includes a pair of assistants,

one a North American student and the other a student from Latin America who have

formed a competent and reliable team. Typically, the assistants become well integrated

into the conceptual background of the project and often conduct their own independent

studies which have been published in international peer-reviewed journals. Working and

living closely together provides both assistants with an intensive intercultural exchange

that has been positive for them and for us. Dr. Ryan is usually present during the month

of June. The day-to-day operations are run by one or two of Ryan’s post-docs or graduate

students, who have had multiple years of experience in studying tungara frogs for their

Ph.D. theses.