My research focuses on elucidating the role of sexual selection in the speciation process. Theoretical research predicts the importance of female mate choice in driving the evolution of sexual selected signals, which can ultimately lead to pre-zygotic reproductive isolation. I specifically study populations of the Amazonian frog, Physalaemus petersi (=Engystomops petersi), which inhabits the tropical rainforest of Colombia, Ecuador and northern Peru. By integrating bioacoustics, morphology, behavior and genetics, I aim to determine the degree to which sexual selection contributes to reproductive isolation; and elucidate the details (e.g. the specific acoustic parameters involved in mating signal divergence and the strength of local female preferences) of how evolution proceeds.

I am also part of the Ryan lab.

See my personal website: Monica A. Guerra