My research focuses on the evolution of mating signals in the Amazonian frog Physalaemus petersi. This species shows wide variation in male advertisement calls between populations that are phylogenetically and geographically close. Females are able to discriminate between males based on their calls. Therefore, this system is ideal to test how female behavior can affect the evolution of the advertisement calls.

In addition, advertisement call characteristics and complexity are influenced by certain structures of the larynx. I plan to correlate the evolution of the calls with larynx structures and the ability of the males to produce calls with different characteristics.