Reproductive behaviour in the neotropical foam-nesting frog Pleurodema diplolistris (Leptodactylidae)

1992 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 263-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walter Hödl
Keyword(s):  
Water Surface ◽  
Reproductive Behaviour ◽  
Nest Construction ◽  
Field Observations ◽  
Call Production ◽  
Video Studies ◽  
Pulmonary Respiration ◽  
Foam Nest

AbstractField observations and laboratory video studies were conducted on call production and foam-nest construction of the leptodactylid frog, Pleurodema diplolistris, in João Pessoa, Paraiba (Brazil). Males call during the night while floating on the water surface. Sound is generated by the inspiratory airstream during pulmonary respiration. Calls have a mean duration of 11.4 s and consist of a series oflow frequency notes given at a mean rate of 536 min-1. Pairs mate in axillary amplexus while floating on the water surface. Between 528 and 748 eggs are deposited in a foam nest. Nesting bouts can be divided into three consecutive phases: (1) female lordosis and egg extrusion and male basket formation; (2) foam beating, and (3) foam smoothing by the male. Bouts last up to 2.9 s and occur at a mean rate of 6.0 min-1. Fifty-one to 101 activity phases are needed to complete nest construction, which lasts between 6:48 and 17:04 min. Interconnected, communal nests outnumber single foam masses. Larvae hatch 22 to 26 h after oviposition at the external gill stage.

scholarly journals Foam nest construction and first report of agonistic behaviour in Pleurodema tucumanum (Anura: Leptodactylidae)

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-128
Author(s):  
Melina J. Rodriguez Muñoz ◽  
Tomás Agustín Martínez ◽  
Juan Carlos Acosta ◽  
Graciela M. Blanco
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Strategies ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Pond Water ◽  
Reproductive Behaviour ◽  
Temporary Pond ◽  
Nest Construction ◽  
Mean Temperature ◽  
Hind Limbs ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Foam Nest

Reproductive strategies are the combination of physiological, morphological, and behavioural traits interacting to increase species reproductive success within a set of environmental conditions. While the reproductive strategies of Leiuperinae are known, few studies have been conducted regarding the reproductive behaviour that underlies them. The aim of this study was to document the structural characteristics of nesting microsites, to describe the process of foam nest construction, and to explore the presence of male agonistic and chorus behaviour in Pleurodema tucumanum. Nests were found close to the edge of a temporary pond and the mean temperature of the foam nests was always close to the mean temperature of the pond water. Our observations corroborate that the foam nest construction phases for P. tucumanum are similar to those described for other Leiuperinae, including dispersion and the beating of the foam, realized by male hind limbs. We also recorded the first scientific observations of male agonistic encounter in Pleurodema tucumanum.

An Analysis of Foam Nest Construction in the Neotropical Frog Physalaemus ephippifer (Leptodactylidae)

Copeia ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 1990 (2) ◽  
pp. 547 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walter Hödl ◽  
Walter Hodl
Keyword(s):  
Nest Construction ◽  
Foam Nest

scholarly journals Mating behaviour of the lizard Ameiva ameiva in Brazil

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
RENAN AUGUSTO RAMALHO
Keyword(s):  
Mating Behaviour ◽  
Reproductive Behaviour ◽  
Field Observations ◽  
Head Bobbing

The courtship and copulation behaviours of the lizard Ameiva ameiva is described from field observations made at various locations in Brazil. In males, the main behaviours observed during one observation of courtship were head bobbing, circling and walking over the females, rubbing his body against the female, mounting, and dismounting. Females generally remain passive throughout courtship. The reproductive behaviour of A. ameiva resembles that of other teiids, however males exhibit some behavioural peculiarities, such as circling the female to restrict her movements, no cloacal rubbing against the ground, and no biting during copulation.

scholarly journals No evidence of body size effects on the reproductive behaviour of a non-territorial damselfly Chalcolestes viridis

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Amin Kahalerras ◽  
Nedjwa Boucenna ◽  
Zinette Bensakhri ◽  
Mouhamed Boukhamza ◽  
Moussa Houhamdi
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Habitat Selection ◽  
Water Depth ◽  
Size Effects ◽  
Water Surface ◽  
Reproductive Behaviour ◽  
Vertical Stratification ◽  
Diurnal Pattern ◽  
Fitness Components ◽  
Branch Diameter

Body size has important effects on reproductive behaviour and fitness of species. Although body size is usually advantageous for territorial species, its direct implication in determining the behaviour of non-territorial species is still not well understood. Here we investigate the reproductive behaviour of a non-territorial damselfly Chalcolestes viridis in northeast Algeria and assess the effects of body size on different behavioural and ecological components. The diurnal pattern of abundance depended on temperature and hour of the day, showing a peak within temperatures ranging between 23° and 26°C. Copulation and oviposition duration were not correlated to body size and did not change across the season. In addition, the species oviposited eggs in wooden substrates that were 150–200 cm above the water surface, and this vertical stratification was negatively correlated to branch diameter and water depth, positively correlated with water width and velocity, but was not correlated with body size and season. Our study suggests that body size might not be very relevant in shaping certain aspects of reproductive behaviour and habitat selection in non-territorial damselflies, but could influence other fitness components.

scholarly journals The Low Flow Assessment of Padma River in Bangladesh

2021 ◽  
pp. 11-20
Author(s):  
Md. Abu Sayed ◽  
Aysha Akter
Keyword(s):  
Frequency Analysis ◽  
Water Surface ◽  
Flow Simulation ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Coefficient Of Determination ◽  
Field Observations ◽  
Distribution Method ◽  
Minimum Flow ◽  
Pearson Type ◽  
Padma River

Low flow or Environmental Flow (EF) assessment is vital to ensure the river and ecosystem remain healthy. Both natural and human interventions might alter a river. Therefore, this study presents EF requirements of the famous Hilsa breeding center in the Padma River, Bangladesh, by applying the Hydrologic Engineering Centers River Analysis System (HEC-RAS) for discharge and water surface levels simulations at different stations. The frequency analysis of 20 years of historical data, spanning 2000-2019, used the Log-Pearson Type III (LP-III) distribution method, while the one-dimensional unsteady flow simulation was performed for the last 10 years (i.e., 2012-2019). Subsequently, the HEC-RAS simulated water level values reasonably correlated with the field observations at four stations, namely Baruria Transit, Mawa, Tarpasha, Sureswar, with Coefficient of determination R2=0.86, 0.83, 0.92, and 0.74, alongside simulated minimum water surface levels of 1.57 m, 0.37 m, 0.30 m, and 0.27 m, respectively. Also, the Baruria Transit and Mawa had simulated flows that reasonably correlated with the field observations at R2=0.70 and 0.61, with a simulated minimum flow of 3849.51 m3/s and 3789.14 m3/s, respectively. The minimum flow according to the frequency analysis was 4017 m3/s, 3685 m3/s, 3449 m3/s, 3229 m3/s, and 3113 m3/s at Baruria Transit and 3304 m3/s, 2781 m3/s, 2438 m3/s, 2141 m3/s, 1992 m3/s at Mawa station in 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 years return periods, respectively. This study overlooked to report the ongoing investigations into the water quality issues. Thus, this study is expected to guide the required EF quantity towards a healthy Hilsha fish habitat and surface water source for drinking purposes in this studied river. The stated method is also applicable to other similar rivers around the world.

scholarly journals Nest site selection and nutritional provision through excreta: a form of parental care in a tropical endogeic earthworm

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angel I. Ortiz-Ceballos ◽  
Diana Pérez-Staples ◽  
Paulino Pérez-Rodríguez
Keyword(s):  
Parental Care ◽  
Site Selection ◽  
Nutritional Quality ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Reproductive Behaviour ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Nest Construction ◽  
Selection Of

Nest construction is a common form of parental care in soil organisms. However, it is unknown whether the tropical earthworm Pontoscolex corethrurus selects sites for nest construction when the nutritional quality of the soil is irregular. Here we studied the reproductive behaviour and nest site selection of P. corethrurus. In tridimensional terrariums we evaluated the combined effect of the food quality (soil only = S, soil+grass = G, soil+legume = L) and soil depth (0-9 cm = Shallow, 10-18 cm = Intermediate, 19-27 cm = Deep) in a factorial 32 design. The number and biomass of cocoons, progeny and the production of internal and external excreta were evaluated. The nutritional quality and depth of soil and their interaction had a significant effect on nest site construction and the deposition of internal excreta. P. corethrurus built a higher amount of nests in the S-Intermediate and G-Intermediate treatments while more internal excreta were found in the L-Intermediate treatment. Offspring biomass was positively associated with internal excreta in the S (soil only) and G (soil + grass) treatments. We conclude that P. corethrurus shows parental care when selecting sites for its offspring in the form of nest construction and excreta deposition. Further research is needed on the ecological conditions that favour the evolution of parental care in earthworms according to their ecological category (anecic, endogeic and anecic).

scholarly journals Nest site selection and nutritional provision through excreta: a form of parental care in a tropical endogeic earthworm

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angel I. Ortiz-Ceballos ◽  
Diana Pérez-Staples ◽  
Paulino Pérez-Rodríguez
Keyword(s):  
Parental Care ◽  
Site Selection ◽  
Nutritional Quality ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Reproductive Behaviour ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Nest Construction ◽  
Selection Of

Nest construction is a common form of parental care in soil organisms. However, it is unknown whether the tropical earthworm Pontoscolex corethrurus selects sites for nest construction when the nutritional quality of the soil is irregular. Here we studied the reproductive behaviour and nest site selection of P. corethrurus. In tridimensional terrariums we evaluated the combined effect of the food quality (soil only = S, soil+grass = G, soil+legume = L) and soil depth (0-9 cm = Shallow, 10-18 cm = Intermediate, 19-27 cm = Deep) in a factorial 32 design. The number and biomass of cocoons, progeny and the production of internal and external excreta were evaluated. The nutritional quality and depth of soil and their interaction had a significant effect on nest site construction and the deposition of internal excreta. P. corethrurus built a higher amount of nests in the S-Intermediate and G-Intermediate treatments while more internal excreta were found in the L-Intermediate treatment. Offspring biomass was positively associated with internal excreta in the S (soil only) and G (soil + grass) treatments. We conclude that P. corethrurus shows parental care when selecting sites for its offspring in the form of nest construction and excreta deposition. Further research is needed on the ecological conditions that favour the evolution of parental care in earthworms according to their ecological category (anecic, endogeic and anecic).

scholarly journals On Natural Modulational Bandwidth of Deep-Water Surface Waves

Fluids ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 67
Author(s):  
Alexander Babanin ◽  
Miguel Onorato ◽  
Luigi Cavaleri
Keyword(s):  
Deep Water ◽  
Water Surface ◽  
Laboratory Experiments ◽  
Wind Wave ◽  
Wave Spectra ◽  
Field Observations ◽  
Wave Steepness ◽  
Side Band ◽  
Wave Trains

We suggest that there exists a natural bandwidth of wave trains, including trains of wind-generated waves with a continuous spectrum, determined by their steepness. Based on laboratory experiments with monochromatic waves, we show that, if no side-band perturbations are imposed, the ratio between the wave steepness and bandwidth is restricted to certain limits. These limits are consistent with field observations of narrow-banded wind-wave spectra if a characteristic width of the spectral peak and average steepness are used. The role of the wind in such modulation is also discussed.

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