Reproductive ecology and territorial behavior of Boana goiana (Anura: Hylidae), a gladiator frog from the Brazilian Cerrado

Anuran males and females adopt different reproductive and behavioral strategies in different contexts. We investigated the reproductive ecology and territorial behavior of the treefrog Boana goiana (B. Lutz, 1968) from the Brazilian Cerrado. We hypothesized that competitor density/proximity would increase the behavioral responses of B. goiana males, and that mating would be assortative. We also tested if the number of eggs correlates with female size and if there is a trade-off between clutch size and egg size. We conducted two territoriality experiments to test the effects of male size, competitor proximity and competitor density. Larger males called more in the presence of a second male. In the second experiment, the largest males emitted more calls and the distance to the nearest male increased as resident males called more. In both experiments, the number of calls was influenced by either male size or spacing between males. Some males behaved as satellites, probably to avoid fights. Our analyses indicate that females choose males with similar sizes to their own, corroborating our hypothesis of size-assortative mating. We found no relationships between female size and clutch size/volume, and between egg size and number of eggs per clutch. We also report multiple spawning for this species. The low incidence of physical combats and the spacing pattern indicate that this species relies almost solely on calls to resolve contests, which could be explained by low motivation, or simply because males avoid combats to decrease injury risks. Thus, acoustic or even multimodal communication seems crucial for social interactions of B. goiana.

Download Full-text

Pipefish embryo oxygenation, survival, and development: egg size, male size, and temperature effects

Behavioral Ecology ◽

10.1093/beheco/arz101 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 30 (5) ◽

pp. 1451-1460 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Malin Nygård ◽

Charlotta Kvarnemo ◽

Ingrid Ahnesjö ◽

Ines Braga Goncalves

Keyword(s):

Egg Size ◽

Care Quality ◽

Offspring Size ◽

Female Size ◽

Male Size ◽

Embryo Survival ◽

Oxygen Levels ◽

Syngnathus Typhle ◽

Uniparental Care ◽

Male Care

AbstractIn animals with uniparental care, the quality of care provided by one sex can deeply impact the reproductive success of both sexes. Studying variation in parental care quality within a species and which factors may affect it can, therefore, shed important light on patterns of mate choice and other reproductive decisions observed in nature. Using Syngnathus typhle, a pipefish species with extensive uniparental male care, with embryos developing inside a brood pouch during a lengthy pregnancy, we assessed how egg size (which correlates positively with female size), male size, and water temperature affect brooding traits that relate to male care quality, all measured on day 18, approximately 1/3, of the brooding period. We found that larger males brooded eggs at lower densities, and their embryos were heavier than those of small males independent of initial egg size. However, large males had lower embryo survival relative to small males. We found no effect of egg size or of paternal size on within-pouch oxygen levels, but oxygen levels were significantly higher in the bottom than the middle section of the pouch. Males that brooded at higher temperatures had lower pouch oxygen levels presumably because of higher embryo developmental rates, as more developed embryos consume more oxygen. Together, our results suggest that small and large males follow distinct paternal strategies: large males positively affect embryo size whereas small males favor embryo survival. As females prefer large mates, offspring size at independence may be more important to female fitness than offspring survival during development.

Download Full-text

Male size does not correlate with fertilization success in two bufonid toads that show size-assortative mating

Current Zoology ◽

10.1093/czoolo/59.6.740 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 59 (6) ◽

pp. 740-746 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Xiao-Li Fan ◽

Zhi-Hua Lin ◽

Xiang Ji

Keyword(s):

Body Size ◽

Assortative Mating ◽

Clutch Size ◽

Egg Size ◽

Dry Mass ◽

Fertilization Success ◽

Male Body ◽

Mating Pattern ◽

Male Size ◽

Male Preference

Abstract We examined sexual size dimorphism (SSD), mating pattern, fertilization efficiency and female reproductive traits in two bufonid toads (Bufo gargarizans and Duttaphrynus melanostictus) to test the idea that importance of male body size for egg fertilization success depends on the mating pattern. Female-biased SSD was evident only in D. melanostictus. Female B. gar-garizans laid fewer larger eggs nearly three months earlier than did female D. melanostictus. Fertilization efficiencies on average were higher in B. gargarizans (95%) than in D. melanostictus (91%). Though differing in the degree of SSD, body size, breeding season, clutch size, egg size and fertilization efficiency, the two toads were similar in four aspects: (1) both showed size-assortative mating; (2) females did not tradeoff egg size against egg number; (3) male size, clutch size and clutch dry mass were greater in male-larger than in female-larger pairs after accounting for female snout-vent length (SVL); and (4) the ratio of male to female SVL did not affect fertilization efficiency. Our data show that: (1) a female preference for large males is likely not important in terms of egg fertilization success; (2) a male preference for large females is likely important because larger females are more fecund; and (3) size-assortative mating arises from a male preference for large females. Our study demonstrates that male size is not always important for egg fertilization success in anurans that show size-assortative mating.

Download Full-text

Reproductive biology of the Patagonian bobtail squid, Semirossia patagonica (Sepiolidae: Rossiinae) in the south-west Atlantic

Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom ◽

10.1017/s0025315408001355 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 88 (5) ◽

pp. 1019-1023 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Bahadir Önsoy ◽

Vladimir Laptikhovsky ◽

Alp Salman

Keyword(s):

Egg Size ◽

Mature Female ◽

Mature Male ◽

Female Size ◽

Male Size ◽

East Atlantic ◽

Potential Fecundity ◽

North East ◽

South West ◽

Continuous Reproduction

A total of 104 Semirossia patagonica were collected all over the Patagonian shelf between the depths of 47 and 295 m. Mature female size varied from 10 to 35 mm ML, mature male size was 16–32 mm. Potential fecundity ranged between 527–766 eggs in pre-spawning females, ripe egg size was 3.4–5.0 mm. The oviduct capacity probably was no more than 30 eggs. The maximum number of spermatophores in males was 229. Males transfer 2–19 spermatophores to females during copulation. The ovulation pattern is asynchronous, individual spawning is continuous. Reproduction occurs all year round. Semirossia patagonica is a south-west Atlantic ecological sibling of north-east Atlantic bobtail squids Sepiola spp. and Sepietta spp.

Download Full-text

Relationships between rainfall, nesting habitat and fecundity of Caiman crocodilus yacare in the Pantanal, Brazil

Journal of Tropical Ecology ◽

10.1017/s0266467400008828 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 351-358 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Zilca Campos ◽

William Magnusson

Keyword(s):

Clutch Size ◽

Egg Size ◽

Water Bodies ◽

Female Size ◽

Strong Positive Correlation ◽

Nesting Habitat ◽

Caiman Crocodilus ◽

Female Body Size ◽

Intermittent Rivers ◽

Hatchling Size

ABSTRACTDifferences in rainfall between years influenced the proportions of different types of nesting habitats of Caiman crocodilus yacare available near water bodies in a region of intermittent rivers (Campo Dora Ranch). In contrast, rainfall had little effect on the proximity of nesting habitat to water bodies in a region of isolated lakes (Nhumirim Ranch). There was a strong positive correlation between female body size and clutch size Snout-vent lengths of females on Campo Dora Ranch were significantly larger than those from Nhumirim Ranch which probably accounts for the larger mean clutch size than in the region of isolated lakes. Hatchling size was correlated with egg size, but there was no relationship between egg size and female size or egg size and clutch size.

Download Full-text

Reproductive ecology of the painted turtle (Chrysemys picta marginata) in southwestern Quebec

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z86-138 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 64 (4) ◽

pp. 914-920 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Elaine Christens ◽

J. Roger Bider

Keyword(s):

Body Size ◽

Clutch Size ◽

Egg Size ◽

Reproductive Ecology ◽

Substantial Reduction ◽

Chrysemys Picta ◽

Painted Turtle ◽

X Ray ◽

Painted Turtles ◽

Old Females

The reproductive ecology of painted turtles (Chrysemys picta marginata) was studied over 3 years (1983–1985) in southwestern Quebec. We used X-ray photography to determine clutch size, egg size, and clutch frequency in conjunction with radiotelemetry to determine when and where the eggs were being deposited. Data on nesting frequency indicated that between 40 and 80% of the 7- to 11-year-old females reproduce each year. All females > 11 years of age reproduced each year and exhibited a substantial reduction in growth compared with younger adult females. The percentage of those females that layed two clutches in a season ranged from 5 to 32%. There was no difference in the size of the first and second clutches or those produced by females only laying one clutch. The average clutch size was found to be 9.2 (range, 5–12) eggs. There was no significant relationship between clutch size and body size, between clutch size and age, or between clutch size and egg size. There was a significant positive linear relationship between egg size and body size. Age-specific fecundity increased up to 20 years of age and then decreased. When compared to studies of more southern populations of painted turtles, the major reproductive strategy for this population seems to be to produce a larger number of large eggs per clutch.

Download Full-text

Optimal egg size in a suboptimal environment: reproductive ecology of female Sonora mud turtles (Kinosternon sonoriense) in central Arizona, USA

Amphibia-Reptilia ◽

10.1163/156853812x634035 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 33 (2) ◽

pp. 161-170 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Jeffrey E. Lovich ◽

Sheila V. Madrak ◽

Charles A. Drost ◽

Anthony J. Monatesti ◽

Dennis Casper ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clutch Size ◽

Egg Size ◽

Carapace Length ◽

Reproductive Ecology ◽

X Ray ◽

Adult Females ◽

Aperture Width ◽

Montezuma Well ◽

Morphological Constraint ◽

Central Arizona

We studied the reproductive ecology of female Sonora mud turtles (Kinosternon sonoriense) at Montezuma Well, a chemically-challenging natural wetland in central Arizona, USA. Females matured between 115.5 and 125 mm carapace length (CL) and 36-54% produced eggs each year. Eggs were detected in X-radiographs from 23 April-28 September (2007-2008) and the highest proportion (56%) of adult females with eggs occurred in June and July. Clutch frequency was rarely more than once per year. Clutch size was weakly correlated with body size, ranged from 1-8 (mean = 4.96) and did not differ significantly between years. X-ray egg width ranged from 17.8-21.7 mm (mean 19.4 mm) and varied more among clutches than within. Mean X-ray egg width of a clutch did not vary significantly with CL of females, although X-ray pelvic aperture width increased with CL. We observed no evidence of a morphological constraint on egg width. In addition, greater variation in clutch size, relative to egg width, suggests that egg size is optimized in this hydrologically stable but chemically-challenging habitat. We suggest that the diversity of architectures exhibited by the turtle pelvis, and their associated lack of correspondence to taxonomic or behavioral groupings, explains some of the variation observed in egg size of turtles.

Download Full-text

The challenges of asymmetric mating – the influence of male and female size on the reproductive output of Acanthochondria cornuta (Chondracanthidae)

Parasitology ◽

10.1017/s0031182016001578 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 143 (14) ◽

pp. 1945-1953

Author(s):

D. G. FRADE ◽

S. NOGUEIRA ◽

M. J. SANTOS ◽

F. I. CAVALEIRO

Keyword(s):

Egg Size ◽

Reproductive Output ◽

Reproductive Effort ◽

Parasitic Copepod ◽

Female Size ◽

Male Size ◽

Male And Female ◽

Four Seasons ◽

Egg Number ◽

Potential Impact

SUMMARYThe reproductive strategy of Acanthochondria cornuta, a parasitic copepod with dwarf, hyperparasitic males, is described in detail. The potential impact of male parasitism on the reproductive output was evaluated by determining the size of each sex and the female's fecundity, egg size and total reproductive effort for each pair/trio throughout the four seasons of the year. Marked seasonal differences were observed in female size and reproductive output, suggesting two distinct generations, but no differences were observed for male size. No statistically significant correlations were observed between male size and any measure of reproductive effort, but females with larger males had lower fecundity. A trade-off between egg number and egg size was recorded. Overall, the reproductive effort in A. cornuta seems to be determined mostly by female size, and larger females do not hold smaller males.

Download Full-text

Reproductive trade-offs of the estuarine copepod Eurytemora affinis under different thermal and haline regimes

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-99703-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Anissa Souissi ◽

Jiang-Shiou Hwang ◽

Sami Souissi

Keyword(s):

Clutch Size ◽

Egg Size ◽

Abiotic Factors ◽

Negative Relationship ◽

Cold Temperature ◽

Female Size ◽

Eurytemora Affinis ◽

Trade Off ◽

Trade Offs ◽

Higher Temperature

AbstractCopepod females invest a quantity of resources in their reproduction. Depending on several biotic and abiotic factors and their evolutionary history a trade-off can be commonly observed between producing a large number of smaller offspring or a small number of larger offspring. In this study, a multi-generational approach was applied to determine whether a trade-off between clutch size and egg size existed in the copepod Eurytemora affinis under different controlled conditions of temperature and salinity. This protocol was based on the follow-up of reproductive (Clutch Size ‘CS’, Egg Diameter ‘ED’) and morphological (Prosome Length ‘PL’) traits during several generations. Copepods were acclimated to cold (7 °C) and warm (20 °C) temperatures, and then their reproductive output was tested at the higher temperature of 24 °C. CS and ED were positively correlated to PL, so as a first step linear regressions between each reproductive trait and female PL were performed. The residuals from the regression lines of CS and ED with PL were calculated to remove the effect of female size. When the normalized data (residuals) of CS and ED plotted together a negative relationship between egg size and egg number revealed the existence of a trade-off. Copepod populations initially acclimated to cold temperature are commonly characterized by relatively smaller CS and larger ED. Conversely, warm temperature adapted females produced relatively larger CS and smaller ED. After transfer to a temperature of 24 °C, the ED did not change but the CS showed high variability indicating stressful conditions and no trade-off was observed. These observations suggest that E. affinis is able to modulate its reproduction depending on the encountered temperature. It seems that this copepod species can shift between a K- and an r-strategy in response to colder or warmer conditions. In a late winter-early spring like cold temperature, copepod females seem to invest more on offspring quality by producing relatively larger eggs. This ecological strategy ensures a high recruitment of the spring generation that is responsible for the strength of the maximum population size usually observed in late spring-early summer (May–June). To the contrary, at summer-like temperature, where the population density decreases significantly in the Seine estuary, copepod females seem to switch from K to r strategy by favoring offspring number compared to offspring size. Finally, the use of a higher temperature of 24 °C seems to disrupt the observed reproductive trade-off even after several generations. These results suggest that a switching between K- or r-strategy of E. affinis depends highly on temperature effects. The effect of salinity increase during a summer-like temperature of 20 °C as well as after transfer to 24 °C decreased PL and CS but the ED did not change significantly.

Download Full-text