When it comes to tree frog mating — it’s complicated. Females face a conundrum when evaluating croaking males. The traits they prefer may indicate a mate that is likely to carry more parasites. A new Florida Atlantic study challenges a long-standing idea that females would prefer less infected males when choosing a mate. The tongueworm parasite causes infections that influence the males’ mating calls. Researchers found females avoided the most heavily infectedmales, but often preferred males with moderate infections over uninfected ones. This indicates they balance traits linked to size and attractiveness against the risk of parasite infection when choosing mates. “Parasites don’t always tell a simple story about health or weakness,” said Sarah R. Goodnight, Ph.D., first author, a Ph.D. graduate of FAU Harbor Branch, and a postdoctoral fellow at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. #mating #treefrogs #frogmating