Who cares for the eggs? Analysis of egg attendance behaviour in Ranitomeya imitator, a poison frog with biparental care

Behaviour ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Lisa M. Schulte ◽  
Kyle Summers
Keyword(s):  
Parental Care ◽  
Biparental Care ◽  
Poison Frog ◽  
Poison Frogs ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Ranitomeya Imitator ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
General Care

Abstract Dendrobatid poison frogs are known for their diverse parental care behaviours, including terrestrial egg attendance. While usually this behaviour is conducted by males, this study compared the pre-hatching investment of males and females in Ranitomeya imitator, a species with biparental care. Although males tended to spend more time with their eggs overall, there was no difference between sexes when comparing different types of care behaviour. Furthermore, both sexes increased general care behaviour when caring for more than one clutch. The finding that the sexes are relatively equal in their contribution to basic parental care forms provides a basis to understand why biparental care is stable in this species.

scholarly journals The tadpole of the bamboo–breeding poison frog Ranitomeya biolat (Anura: Dendrobatidae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 1857 (1) ◽  
pp. 66 ◽  
Author(s):  
RUDOLF VON MAY ◽  
MARGARITA MEDINA–MÜLLER ◽  
MAUREEN A. DONNELLY ◽  
Kyle Summers
Keyword(s):  
Parental Care ◽  
Food Resource ◽  
Breeding Biology ◽  
Biparental Care ◽  
Basic Information ◽  
Important Food ◽  
Poison Frog ◽  
Southern Peru ◽  
Trophic Eggs ◽  
Lowland Rainforest

Ranitomeya biolat occurs in the lowland rainforest of southern Peru and northwestern Bolivia and uses bamboo internodes as a retreat and reproduction site (Morales 1992; Maldonado & Reichle 2007). Unlike other members of the vanzolinii group, which exhibit biparental care of tadpoles (Summers & McKeon 2004), we have observed that R. biolat exhibits male–only parental care and that tadpoles are transported individually and deposited in water–filled bamboo internodes (Medina–Müller 2006; R. von May, unpublished data). After more than 12 months of sampling, we never observed individuals providing trophic eggs to tadpoles or observed oophagy as clutches were laid 3.5 ± 1.5 cm above the water (n = 55); hence, tadpole oophagy may not be an important food resource as previously suspected (Waldram 2008). Though basic information on its breeding biology has been published (Waldram 2008), its tadpole remains undescribed. With the purpose of filling this gap, we here describe the tadpole of R. biolat.

scholarly journals Alkaloid avoidance in poison frog tadpoles

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eugenia Sanchez ◽  
Travis Ramirez ◽  
Lauren A O'Connell
Keyword(s):  
Locomotor Activity ◽  
Secondary Metabolites ◽  
Feeding Behavior ◽  
Chemical Defense ◽  
Poison Frog ◽  
Poison Frogs ◽  
Frog Tadpoles ◽  
Ranitomeya Imitator

Animals show a spectrum of avoidance-tolerance to foods containing toxic secondary metabolites. However, this spectrum has not been evaluated in animals that may actively seek out these compounds as a chemical defense. Poison frogs sequester toxic and unpalatable alkaloids from their diet, and in some species, tadpoles are exposed to these toxins before the development of their skin granular glands, which are used for toxin compartmentalization. Here, we examined the effects of the alkaloid decahydroquinoline (DHQ) in tadpoles of the Mimetic poison frog, Ranitomeya imitator, using alkaloid supplemented food. We found that although their survival is lowered by the alkaloid, their development is only mildly affected, with no evident effects on their growth. Furthermore, locomotor activity and feeding behavior was altered in the first week of DHQ treatment, probably in part through nicotinic blockade. However, after two weeks, tadpoles learned to avoid the alkaloid by visiting the food area only when necessary to eat. Our results suggest that poison frogs navigate the avoidance-tolerance spectrum during the development of their sequestration machinery.

scholarly journals Tri-axial accelerometry shows differences in energy expenditure and parental effort throughout the breeding season in long-lived raptors

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pascual LÓPEZ-LÓPEZ ◽  
Arturo M PERONA ◽  
Olga EGEA-CASAS ◽  
Jon ETXEBARRIA MORANT ◽  
Vicente URIOS
Keyword(s):  
Energy Expenditure ◽  
Parental Care ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Video Recording ◽  
Experimental Manipulation ◽  
Biparental Care ◽  
Breeding Ecology ◽  
Parental Effort ◽  
Ecological Data ◽  
Movement Trajectories

Abstract Cutting-edge technologies are extremely useful to develop new workflows in studying ecological data, particularly to understand animal behaviour and movement trajectories at the individual level. Although parental care is a well-studied phenomenon, most studies have been focused on direct observational or video recording data, as well as experimental manipulation. Therefore, what happens out of our sight still remains unknown. Using high-frequency GPS/GSM dataloggers and tri-axial accelerometers we monitored 25 Bonelli’s eagles (Aquila fasciata) during the breeding season to understand parental activities from a broader perspective. We used recursive data, measured as number of visits and residence time, to reveal nest attendance patterns of biparental care with role specialization between sexes. Accelerometry data interpreted as the Overall Dynamic Body Acceleration, a proxy of energy expenditure, showed strong differences in parental effort throughout the breeding season and between sexes. Thereby, males increased substantially their energetic requirements, due to the increased workload, while females spent most of the time on the nest. Furthermore, during critical phases of the breeding season, a low percentage of suitable hunting spots in eagles’ territories led them to increase their ranging behaviour in order to find food, with important consequences in energy consumption and mortality risk. Our results highlight the crucial role of males in raptor species exhibiting biparental care. Finally, we exemplify how biologging technologies are an adequate and objective method to study parental care in raptors as well as to get deeper insight into breeding ecology of birds in general.

scholarly journals Offspring and adult chemosensory recognition by an amphisbaenian reptile may allow maintaining familiar links in the fossorial environment

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e10780
Author(s):  
José Martín ◽  
Ernesto Raya-García ◽  
Jesús Ortega ◽  
Pilar López
Keyword(s):  
Parental Care ◽  
Chemical Cues ◽  
Kin Recognition ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
Tongue Flick ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Stable Family ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Family Groups

Kin recognition is a phenomenon with an important function in maintaining cohesive social groups in animals. Several studies have examined parent–offspring recognition in species with direct parental care. Few studies have, however, explored parent–offspring recognition in animals that, at best, only show apparent indirect parental care, such as some reptiles. In this study, we investigated reciprocal parent–offspring recognition in the fossorial amphisbaenian Trogonophis wiegmanni, a viviparous species that shows potential stable ‘family groups’ in the form of parent-offspring long-term associations. We examined whether adult males and females could discriminate via chemical cues between familiar juveniles which associate with them within their family groups, and are potentially their offspring, to that of unfamiliar juveniles, and whether juveniles could discriminate between familiar adult males and females of their family group (probably their parents) and unfamiliar unrelated adults. We measured tongue flick behavior to study chemosensory responses to the scent of conspecifics. We found that adult female amphisbaenians, but not males, could discriminate between scents of familiar and unfamiliar juveniles. Juvenile amphisbaenians did not discriminate between familiar and unfamiliar adult females, but recognize familiar from unfamiliar males. We discuss our results of parent–offspring recognition according to its potential social function in an ecological fossorial context where visibility is limited and chemosensory kin recognition may contribute to the establishment of stable family groups.

scholarly journals Description of the reproductive behavior of Symphysodon aequifasciatus (Cichlidae) in captivity

2016 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 433-438 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas da Cruz MATTOS ◽  
Rafaela SCRENCI-RIBEIRO ◽  
Leonardo Demier CARDOSO ◽  
Manuel Vazquez Vidal JUNIOR
Keyword(s):  
Parental Care ◽  
Reproductive Behavior ◽  
Amazon Basin ◽  
Color Change ◽  
Biparental Care ◽  
Reproductive Process ◽  
Second Stage ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Two Stages ◽  
Couple Formation

ABSTRACT The blue discus (Symphysodon aequifasciatus) is often sold for ornamental purposes. It is a neotropical cichlid from South America, which is native to the rivers of the Amazon basin of Brazil, Peru and Colombia. The purpose of this study was to characterize the reproductive behavior of S. aequifasciatus and identify features that can later be used by breeders to facilitate the handling and reproduction of this species in captivity. The experiment was divided into two stages: the first dealt with partner selection and couple formation to observe the behaviors of territoriality, pursuing, fleeing, biting, stay, protecting and cleaning of the substrate. The second stage documented mating behavior, nesting and parental care, to observe vibration, spawning, permanence with the offspring, aeration of eggs, cleaning of spawning, color change and shift-taking in parental care. The results of the study allowed identifying disputes for and establishment of territory, as well as the selection and cleaning of the substrate for spawning performed by both sexes. The parental care was observed from spawning in the substrate until the care for the larvae. It was found that the reproductive success of this species is closely linked to biparental care observed during the entire reproductive process and early stages of the hatchings.

Mimetic Divergence and the Speciation Continuum in the Mimic Poison Frog Ranitomeya imitator

2016 ◽  
Vol 187 (2) ◽  
pp. 205-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evan Twomey ◽  
Jacob S. Vestergaard ◽  
Pablo J. Venegas ◽  
Kyle Summers
Keyword(s):  
Poison Frog ◽  
Ranitomeya Imitator ◽  
Speciation Continuum

Specific behavioural responses triggered by identified mechanosensory receptor cells in the apical field of the giant rotifer Asplanchna sieboldi.

1998 ◽  
Vol 201 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-177
Author(s):  
K D Joanidopoulos ◽  
W Marwan
Keyword(s):  
Behavioural Response ◽  
Sensory Receptor ◽  
Receptor Specificity ◽  
Free Swimming ◽  
Behavioural Responses ◽  
Receptor Cells ◽  
Mechanical Interference ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Stimulation Of

The giant rotifer Asplanchna sieboldi swims by the propulsive effect of thousands of cilia arrayed in clusters around the apical field, which has several mechanosensory structures (sensilla) located at defined positions. Males and females differ in both their patterns of behaviour and their sensory receptor equipment. Unstimulated males swim straight with occasional spontaneous changes in direction until they hit an obstacle with their apical field. Depending on the direction and the strength of the mechanical interference, the animals show different behavioural responses. To analyse the effect of excitation of the apical mechanosensitive sensilla on these responses, males were held on microcapillaries, and the sensitivity of individual sensilla was assayed using micromanipulator-mediated mechanical stimulation. Stimulation of each of the four different types of sensillum triggered a specific and well-defined initial behavioural response. Individual animals behaved identically with respect to the receptor specificity of the responses. The behaviour of free-swimming males upon contact with obstacles or females is discussed on the basis of these results.

scholarly journals Behavioral and Endocrine Alterations to Partner Interactions and Offspring Care during Periods of Conflict

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy Paciorek ◽  
Leese Joseph
Keyword(s):  
Pair Bond ◽  
Biparental Care ◽  
Resident Male ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Pair Bonds ◽  
Convict Cichlids ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Cortisol Levels ◽  
Endocrine Alterations

Abstract Biparental care has evolved to ensure successful rearing of offspring. However, separation during periods of care can lead to conflicts that might negatively impact pair bonds and offspring care. In this study, pair-bonded convict cichlids (Amatitlania nigrofasciata) were observed for changes in behavior toward their partners and offspring before and after a period of separation. Males and females were designated either as a Resident (remain with offspring) or Removed (separated from partner and offspring for 5 days) individual. Behaviors between partners and toward offspring were measured before and after separation, and compared to the levels of behavior of control pairs (never separated), as well as individuals introduced to a novel partner instead. Cortisol levels of Resident male and female A. nigrofasciata were assayed using water-borne hormone collection before and after separation. Aggression between pair bond members did increase following reintroduction, but did not lead to the termination of pair bonds. Resident females showed more aggression to novel partners than Resident males. Offspring care decreased in both Resident and Removed females. Experimental pairs decreased the amount of time spent interacting with intruders. Cortisol levels were significantly higher among experimental pairs compared with control pairs that did not experience a separation. Females (both control and experimental) showed small, yet significant increases in cortisol levels, while both control and experimental males did not. These results suggest that while pair bonds appear resilient, prolonged separations influence pair bond and parental care dynamics, both behaviorally and hormonally, and require pairs to re-establish roles, resulting in less time caring for offspring.

Sex-biased parental-care allocation in three tern species (Laridae, Aves)

1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (8) ◽  
pp. 1461-1467 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mauro Fasola ◽  
Nicola Saino
Keyword(s):  
Parental Care ◽  
Agonistic Behavior ◽  
Sexual Size Dimorphism ◽  
Reproductive Effort ◽  
Seabird Species ◽  
Theoretical Predictions ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Sandwich Tern ◽  
Parental Expenditure ◽  
Care Allocation

We studied parental-care allocation by males and females in three tern species. Female Common Terns (Sterna hirundo) and Little Terns (S. albifrons) performed more incubation and brooding than males, whereas in the Sandwich Tern (S. sandvicensis) the sexes shared these duties equally. In all three species, agonistic behaviors were performed equally by females and males. Prey types brought by males and females of each species were similar, but males tended to bring larger prey and had higher delivery rates than females. Information on parental-care allocation by female and male seabirds of various species, 5 gulls, 6 terns, and 1 skimmer, indicates that females perform most of the incubation and brooding in both gulls and terns, whereas males perform most territory attendance and agonistic behavior (gulls) and more prey provisioning (terns). These patterns are qualitatively consistent with the explanation that the differences between gulls and terns in sex-biased parental care are related to the fact that gulls exhibit sexual size dimorphism but terns do not. Contrary to theoretical predictions that in monogamous birds, females contribute more reproductive effort than males, in all the seabird species studied so far the total parental expenditure by males seems to equal or outweigh that by females.

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