1
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Fischer MT, Xue KS, Costello EK, Dvorak M, Raboisson G, Robaczewska A, Caty SN, Relman DA, O'Connell LA. Effects of parental care on skin microbial community composition in poison frogs. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.09.11.612488. [PMID: 39314287 PMCID: PMC11419107 DOI: 10.1101/2024.09.11.612488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/25/2024]
Abstract
Parent-offspring interactions constitute the first contact of many newborns with their environment, priming community assembly of microbes through priority effects. Early exposure to microbes can have lasting influences on the assembly and functionality of the host's microbiota, leaving a life-long imprint on host health and disease. Studies of the role played by parental care in microbial acquisition have primarily focused on humans and hosts with agricultural relevance. Anuran vertebrates offer the opportunity to examine microbial community composition across life stages as a function of parental investment. In this study, we investigate vertical transmission of microbiota during parental care in a poison frog (Family Dendrobatidae), where fathers transport their offspring piggyback-style from terrestrial clutches to aquatic nurseries. We found that substantial bacterial colonization of the embryo begins after hatching from the vitelline envelope, emphasizing its potential role as microbial barrier during early development. Using a laboratory cross-foster experiment, we demonstrated that poison frogs performing tadpole transport serve as a source of skin microbes for tadpoles on their back. To study how transport impacts the microbial skin communities of tadpoles in an ecologically relevant setting, we sampled frogs and tadpoles of sympatric species that do or do not exhibit tadpole transport in their natural habitat. We found more diverse microbial communities associated with tadpoles of transporting species compared to a non-transporting frog. However, we detected no difference in the degree of similarity between adult and tadpole skin microbiotas, based on whether the frog species exhibits transporting behavior or not. Using a field experiment, we confirmed that tadpole transport can result in the persistent colonization of tadpoles by isolated microbial taxa associated with the caregiver's skin, albeit often at low abundance. This is the first study to describe vertical transmission of skin microbes in anuran amphibians, showing that offspring transport may serve as a mechanism for transmission of parental skin microbes. Overall, these findings provide a foundation for further research on how vertical transmission in this order impacts host-associated microbiota and physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Katherine S Xue
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Elizabeth K Costello
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Mai Dvorak
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Gaëlle Raboisson
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Anna Robaczewska
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Stephanie N Caty
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - David A Relman
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Infectious Diseases Section, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Lauren A O'Connell
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Wu Tsai Institute for Neuroscience, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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2
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Peignier M, Ringler M, Ringler E. Odor cues rather than personality affect tadpole deposition in a neotropical poison frog. Curr Zool 2024; 70:332-342. [PMID: 39035761 PMCID: PMC11255997 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoad042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Animals constantly need to evaluate available external and internal information to make appropriate decisions. Identifying, assessing, and acting on relevant cues in contexts such as mate choice, intra-sexual competition, and parental care is particularly important for optimizing individual reproductive success. Several factors can influence decision-making, such as external environmental cues and the animal's own internal state, yet, we have limited knowledge on how animals integrate available information. Here, we used an entire island population (57 males, 53 females, and 1,109 tadpoles) of the neotropical brilliant-thighed poison frog Allobates femoralis to investigate how 2 factors (olfactory cues and personality traits) influence the ability of males to find and use new resources for tadpole deposition. We experimentally manipulated the location of tadpole deposition sites and their associated olfactory cues, and repeatedly measured exploration and boldness in adult males. We further reconstructed tadpole deposition choices via inferred parent-offspring relationships of adult frogs and tadpoles deposited in our experimental pools using molecular parentage analysis. We found that the discovery and use of new rearing sites were heavily influenced by olfactory cues; however, we did not find an effect of the measured behavioral traits on resource discovery and use. We conclude that in highly dynamic environments such as tropical rainforests, reliable external cues likely take priority over personality traits, helping individuals to discover and make use of reproductive resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mélissa Peignier
- Division of Behavioural Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, CH-3032 Hinterkappelen, Switzerland
- Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Max Ringler
- Division of Behavioural Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, CH-3032 Hinterkappelen, Switzerland
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria
- Institute of Electronic Music and Acoustics, University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Eva Ringler
- Division of Behavioural Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, CH-3032 Hinterkappelen, Switzerland
- Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
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3
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Betancourth-Cundar M, Canoine V, Fusani L, Cadena CD. Does testosterone underly the interplay between male traits and territorial behavior in neotropical poison frogs? Horm Behav 2024; 162:105547. [PMID: 38677262 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2024.105547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
The ability of individual animals to defend a territory as well as various phenotypic and behavioral traits may be targets of sexual selection used by males to evaluate their competitors or by females to choose males. A frequent question in animal behavior is whether male traits and characteristics of their territory are correlated and what are the mechanisms that may mediate such associations when they exist. Because hormones link phenotype to behavior, by studying the role of testosterone in territoriality one may come closer to understanding the mechanisms mediating correlations or lack thereof between characteristics of territories and of males. We evaluated whether variation in characteristics of territories (size and quality) are correlated with variation in morphology, coloration, testosterone, heterozygosity, and calls in two species of poison frogs. The Amazonian frog Allobates aff. trilineatus exhibits male care and defends territories only during the breeding season, while the endangered frog Oophaga lehmanni displays maternal care and defends territories throughout the year. We found that morphological traits (body length, weight, thigh size), call activity, and testosterone levels correlated with size and various indicators of quality of the territory. However, the direction of these correlations (whether positive or negative) and which specific morphological, acoustic traits or testosterone level variables covaried depended on the species. Our findings highlight an endocrine pathway as part of the physiological machinery that may underlie the interplay between male traits and territorial behavior. We were able to identify some male traits related to territory attributes, but whether females choose males based on these traits requires further research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Virginie Canoine
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Leonida Fusani
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
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4
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Goolsby BC, Fischer MT, Chen TG, Pareja-Mejía D, Shaykevich DA, Lewis AR, Raboisson G, Lacey MP, O’Connell LA. Home security cameras as a tool for behavior observations and science affordability. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.04.17.537238. [PMID: 37131676 PMCID: PMC10153166 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.17.537238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Reliably capturing transient animal behavior in the field and laboratory remains a logistical and financial challenge, especially for small ectotherms. Here, we present a camera system that is affordable, accessible, and suitable to monitor small, cold-blooded animals historically overlooked by commercial camera traps, such as small amphibians. The system is weather-resistant, can operate offline or online, and allows collection of time-sensitive behavioral data in laboratory and field conditions with continuous data storage for up to four weeks. The lightweight camera can also utilize phone notifications over Wi-Fi so that observers can be alerted when animals enter a space of interest, enabling sample collection at proper time periods. We present our findings, both technological and scientific, in an effort to elevate tools that enable researchers to maximize use of their research budgets. We discuss the relative affordability of our system for researchers in South America, home to the largest ectotherm diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Tony G. Chen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Daniela Pareja-Mejía
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Graduate Program in Zoology, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Bahía, Brazil
| | | | - Amaris R. Lewis
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Gaelle Raboisson
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Madison P. Lacey
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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5
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Cossio R, Wright J, Acosta R, Rodríguez A. Space use and parental care behaviour in Andinobates claudiae (Dendrobatidae). BEHAVIOUR 2021. [DOI: 10.1163/1568539x-bja10139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The selection of habitats with potential reproductive resources may maximize individual reproductive success and overall fitness. Dendrobatid frogs display remarkable parental care which is associated with water bodies (phytotelmata) contained in plants with characteristics that are important to offspring survival. It has been shown that the size of phytotelmata is a key factor that drove the divergence in parental care patterns in poison frogs and that the distribution of reproductive resources can influence space use in these species. Here, we investigated parental care strategies and the influence of reproductive resource distribution on space use patterns in a wild population of Andinobates claudiae in Bocas del Toro, Panama. We identified the phytotelmata characteristics that predict tadpole deposition and analysed the association between the spatial distribution of phytotelmata and spatial use of males and females. Our observations showed that this species mates polygamously and exhibits male parental care. We found that male frogs have smaller kernel density home ranges and core areas compared to females, and that space use is related to the density of Heliconia plants whose axil cavities are used for tadpole rearing. Furthermore, we found that tadpoles were more frequently found in phytotelmata that were at lower heights and contained larger water volumes. Fathers invested time inspecting multiple cavities and travelled further than predicted from their territories to find suitable deposition sites. Our observations suggest a selective choice of phytotelmata regarding tadpole deposition, where distribution and quality of cavities might influence parental care decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Cossio
- Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Bünteweg 17d, 30559 Hannover, Germany
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092, Balboa, Republic of Panama
| | - Jennifer Wright
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149, USA
| | - Rebeca Acosta
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092, Balboa, Republic of Panama
| | - Ariel Rodríguez
- Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Bünteweg 17d, 30559 Hannover, Germany
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6
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Serrano-Rojas SJ, Pašukonis A. Tadpole-transporting frogs use stagnant water odor to find pools in the rainforest. J Exp Biol 2021; 224:272393. [PMID: 34608492 PMCID: PMC8627569 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.243122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Breeding sites are often a limited and ephemeral resource for rainforest frogs. This resource limitation has driven the evolution of diverse reproductive strategies that increase offspring survival. For example, poison frogs shuttle their tadpoles from terrestrial clutches to aquatic rearing sites, using various cues to assess pool suitability. Yet, how frogs find new pools is unknown. We tested the role of odor cues in the process of finding tadpole deposition sites by the poison frog Allobates femoralis. We created 60 artificial pools grouped into three conditions: stagnant water, tadpole water and clean water control. Fifteen pools were discovered within 6 days, with more tadpoles and more frogs directly observed at pools with stagnant odor cues. Our findings suggest that frogs use odor cues associated with stagnant water for the initial discovery of new breeding pools. These cues may be good indicators of pool stability and increased likelihood of tadpole survival. Summary: Amphibians rely on water for reproduction; however, very little is known on how amphibians find water bodies. Experiments in Allobates femoralis suggest that frogs use stagnant odor cues to find breeding pools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shirley J Serrano-Rojas
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, 371 Jane Stanford Way, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.,Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco (UNSAAC), Cusco 08000, Perú
| | - Andrius Pašukonis
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, 371 Jane Stanford Way, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.,CEFE, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, 34090, France
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7
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Fouilloux CA, Serrano Rojas SJ, Carvajal‐Castro JD, Valkonen JK, Gaucher P, Fischer M, Pašukonis A, Rojas B. Pool choice in a vertical landscape: Tadpole-rearing site flexibility in phytotelm-breeding frogs. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:9021-9038. [PMID: 34257942 PMCID: PMC8258215 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Many species of Neotropical frogs have evolved to deposit their tadpoles in small water bodies inside plant structures called phytotelmata. These pools are small enough to exclude large predators but have limited nutrients and high desiccation risk. Here, we explore phytotelm use by three common Neotropical species: Osteocephalus oophagus, an arboreal frog that periodically feeds eggs to its tadpoles; Dendrobates tinctorius, a tadpole-transporting poison frog with cannibalistic tadpoles; and Allobates femoralis, a terrestrial tadpole-transporting poison frog with omnivorous tadpoles. We found that D. tinctorius occupies pools across the chemical and vertical gradient, whereas A. femoralis and O. oophagus appear to have narrower deposition options that are restricted primarily by pool height, water capacity, alkalinity, and salinity. Dendrobates tinctorius tadpoles are particularly flexible and can survive in a wide range of chemical, physical, and biological conditions, whereas O. oophagus seems to prefer small, clear pools and A. femoralis occupies medium-sized pools with abundant leaf litter and low salinity. Together, these results show the possible niche partitioning of phytotelmata among frogs and provide insight into stressors and resilience of phytotelm breeders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloe A. Fouilloux
- Department of Biological and Environmental ScienceUniversity of JyväskyläJyväskyläFinland
| | | | - Juan David Carvajal‐Castro
- Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von HumboldtBogotáColombia
- Department of Biological SciencesSt. John’s UniversityQueensNYUSA
| | - Janne K. Valkonen
- Department of Biological and Environmental ScienceUniversity of JyväskyläJyväskyläFinland
| | - Philippe Gaucher
- USR LEEISA—Laboratoire EcologieEvolution, Interactions des Systèmes AmazoniensCNRS‐GuyaneCayenneFrench Guiana
| | | | - Andrius Pašukonis
- Department of BiologyStanford UniversityStanfordCAUSA
- Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionelle et EvolutiveCNRSMontpellier Cedex 5France
| | - Bibiana Rojas
- Department of Biological and Environmental ScienceUniversity of JyväskyläJyväskyläFinland
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8
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Duarte-Marín S, González-Acosta CC, Santos Dias PH, Arias-Álvarez GA, Vargas-Salinas F. Advertisement call, tadpole morphology, and other natural history aspects of the threatened poison frog Andinobates daleswansoni (Dendrobatidae). J NAT HIST 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.1889068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sebastián Duarte-Marín
- Grupo de Evolución, Ecología y Conservación EECO, Programa de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas y Tecnologías, Universidad del Quindío, Armenia, Colombia
| | - Cristian C. González-Acosta
- Grupo de Evolución, Ecología y Conservación EECO, Programa de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas y Tecnologías, Universidad del Quindío, Armenia, Colombia
| | | | - Gustavo A. Arias-Álvarez
- Grupo de estudio de artrópodos (GEA), Programa de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas y Tecnologías, Universidad del Quindío, Armenia, Colombia
| | - Fernando Vargas-Salinas
- Grupo de Evolución, Ecología y Conservación EECO, Programa de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas y Tecnologías, Universidad del Quindío, Armenia, Colombia
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9
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Basham EW, Saporito RA, González‐Pinzón M, Romero‐Marcucci A, Scheffers BR. Chemical defenses shift with the seasonal vertical migration of a Panamanian poison frog. Biotropica 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Edmund W. Basham
- School of Natural Resources and Environment University of Florida Gainesville FL USA
| | - Ralph A. Saporito
- Department of Biology John Carroll University University Heights OH USA
| | - Macario González‐Pinzón
- Escuela de Biología Facultad de Ciencias naturales y Exactas Universidad Autónoma de Chiriquí David República de Panamá
| | - Angel Romero‐Marcucci
- Escuela de Biología Facultad de Ciencias naturales y Exactas Universidad Autónoma de Chiriquí David República de Panamá
| | - Brett R. Scheffers
- School of Natural Resources and Environment University of Florida Gainesville FL USA
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation University of Florida Gainesville FL USA
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10
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Schulte LM, Ringler E, Rojas B, Stynoski JL. Developments in Amphibian Parental Care Research: History, Present Advances, and Future Perspectives. HERPETOLOGICAL MONOGRAPH 2020; 34:71-97. [PMID: 38989507 PMCID: PMC7616153 DOI: 10.1655/herpmonographs-d-19-00002.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Despite rising interest among scientists for over two centuries, parental care behavior has not been as thoroughly studied in amphibians as it has in other taxa. The first reports of amphibian parental care date from the early 18th century, when Maria Sibylla Merian went on a field expedition in Suriname and reported frog metamorphs emerging from their mother's dorsal skin. Reports of this and other parental behaviors in amphibians remained descriptive for decades, often as side notes during expeditions with another purpose. However, since the 1980s, experimental approaches have proliferated, providing detailed knowledge about the adaptive value of observed behaviors. Today, we recognize more than 30 types of parental care in amphibians, but most studies focus on just a few families and have favored anurans over urodeles and caecilians. Here, we provide a synthesis of the last three centuries of parental care research in the three orders comprising the amphibians. We draw attention to the progress from the very first descriptions to the most recent experimental studies, and highlight the importance of natural history observations as a source of new hypotheses and necessary context to interpret experimental findings. We encourage amphibian parental care researchers to diversify their study systems to allow for a more comprehensive perspective of the behaviors that amphibians exhibit. Finally, we uncover knowledge gaps and suggest new avenues of research using a variety of disciplines and approaches that will allow us to better understand the function and evolution of parental care behaviors in this diverse group of animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M. Schulte
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 13, 60438Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Eva Ringler
- Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, University of Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, A-1210Vienna, Austria
- University of Vienna, Department of Integrative Zoology, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090Vienna, Austria
| | - Bibiana Rojas
- University of Jyvaskyla, Department of Biology and Environmental Science, P.O. Box 35, 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Jennifer L. Stynoski
- Colorado State University, Department of Biology, 200 W. Lake Street, Fort Collins, CO, 48823USA
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Universidad de Costa Rica, Dulce Nombre de Coronado, San José, Costa Rica
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11
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Vági B, Végvári Z, Liker A, Freckleton RP, Székely T. Parental care and the evolution of terrestriality in frogs. Proc Biol Sci 2019; 286:20182737. [PMID: 30966991 PMCID: PMC6501668 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.2737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2018] [Accepted: 03/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Frogs and toads (Anura) exhibit some of the most diverse parental strategies in vertebrates. Identifying the evolutionary origins of parenting is fundamental to understanding the relationships between sexual selection, social evolution and parental care systems of contemporary Anura. Moreover, parenting has been hypothesized to allow the invasion of terrestrial habitats by the ancestors of terrestrial vertebrates. Using comprehensive phylogenetic analyses of frogs and toads based on data from over 1000 species that represent 46 out of 55 Anura families, we test whether parental care is associated with terrestrial reproduction and several life-history traits. Here, we show that both the duration of care and offspring protection by males and females have coevolved with terrestrial reproduction. Sexual size dimorphism is also related to care, because the large male size relative to female size is associated with increased paternal care. Furthermore, increased egg size and reduced clutch volume are associated with increased care in bivariate but not in multivariate analyses, suggesting that the relationships between care, egg size and clutch volume are mediated by terrestrial reproduction. Taken together, our results suggest that parenting by males and females has coevolved, and complex parenting traits have evolved several times independently in Anura in response to breeding in terrestrial environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balázs Vági
- Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Zsolt Végvári
- Department of Conservation Zoology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
- Department Hortobágy National Park Directorate, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - András Liker
- Department of Limnology, University of Pannonia, Veszprém, Hungary
| | | | - Tamás Székely
- Milner Centre for Evolution, University of Bath, Bath, UK
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12
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Jaumann S, Snell-Rood EC. Adult nutritional stress decreases oviposition choosiness and fecundity in female butterflies. Behav Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arz022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Jaumann
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, MN, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, NW, Suite, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Emilie C Snell-Rood
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, MN, USA
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13
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Nursery crowding does not influence offspring, but might influence parental, fitness in a phytotelm-breeding frog. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-019-2642-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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14
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Giaretta AA, da Silva WR, Facure KG. Oviposition site selection in two basin-digging Leptodactylus Fitzinger, 1826 (Anura). TROPICAL ZOOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/03946975.2018.1542246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ariovaldo A. Giaretta
- Laboratório de Taxonomia, Sistemática e Ecologia de Anuros Neotropicais, Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Naturais do Pontal, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Rua 20, 1600, Bairro Tupã, Ituiutaba, MG 38304-402, Brazil
| | - Wagner R. da Silva
- Laboratório de Taxonomia, Sistemática e Ecologia de Anuros Neotropicais, Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Naturais do Pontal, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Rua 20, 1600, Bairro Tupã, Ituiutaba, MG 38304-402, Brazil
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Naturais e Educação (ICENE), Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM), Av. Dr. Randolfo Borges, 1400 – Univerdecidade, Uberaba, MG 38064-200, Brazil
| | - Kátia G. Facure
- Laboratório de Taxonomia, Sistemática e Ecologia de Anuros Neotropicais, Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Naturais do Pontal, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Rua 20, 1600, Bairro Tupã, Ituiutaba, MG 38304-402, Brazil
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15
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Lantyer-Silva ASF, Waldron A, Zina J, Solé M. Reproductive site selection in a bromeliad breeding treefrog suggests complex evolutionary trade-offs. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0207131. [PMID: 30517134 PMCID: PMC6281282 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0207131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2018] [Accepted: 10/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Reproductive site selection is a key determinant of fitness in many taxa. However, if the site characteristics that enhance offspring survival are detrimental to the parent's survival or mating success, then complex evolutionary trade-offs occur. In the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, males of the treefrog species Aparasphenodon arapapa use the temporary water bodies in forest-floor bromeliads to court and mate. Males fit tightly into the plant with the head blocking the access and after mating, stay in the bromeliad with the offspring. Since evaporation of the temporary water body inside the bromeliad results in reproductive failure, we expected that males would simply choose the largest bromeliad tanks with the most water. We found that although this was generally true, males seemed to avoid both very large bromeliads and very high water volumes. Field observations suggested a trade-off mechanism for this pattern, whereby very large and water-filled tanks would reduce the male's ability to effectively seal the tank entrance, avoid predation, or call to mating females. Males also avoided bromeliads with leaf litter and preferred slightly inclined plants. Our results indicate that during reproductive site selection, this bromeliad-breeder needs to engage in complex trade-offs between selection pressures, balancing water requirements against the need for defense and potentially, the ability to attract a mate.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anthony Waldron
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Juliana Zina
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Vertebrados, Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia, Jequié, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Mirco Solé
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil
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Pettitt BA, Bourne GR, Bee MA. Predictors and benefits of microhabitat selection for offspring deposition in golden rocket frogs. Biotropica 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Beth A. Pettitt
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior; University of Minnesota - Twin Cities; Saint Paul MN 55108 U.S.A
- Department of Biology; St. Olaf College; Northfield MN 55057 U.S.A
| | - Godfrey R. Bourne
- Department of Biology; University of Missouri - St. Louis; St. Louis MO 63121 U.S.A
- CEIBA Biological Center; Linden Highway Madewini Guyana
| | - Mark A. Bee
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior; University of Minnesota - Twin Cities; Saint Paul MN 55108 U.S.A
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Searching for hormonal facilitators: Are vasotocin and mesotocin involved in parental care behaviors in poison frogs? Physiol Behav 2017; 174:74-82. [PMID: 28283464 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2017.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2016] [Revised: 01/16/2017] [Accepted: 03/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Although the involvement of peptide hormones in parental care behaviors is well investigated in vertebrates, in amphibians the physiological basis of parental care is largely unknown. This is all the more surprising as parental care behaviors in these tetrapods are remarkably diverse. The poison frog Ranitomeya imitator performs biparental care, including clutch guarding, tadpole transportation and nutrient provisioning. Here we tested whether the nonapeptides arginine-vasotocin (AVT) and mesotocin (MT) are involved in clutch guarding and tadpole transportation in these frogs. In ex-sito experiments we injected males and females after clutch deposition and before tadpole transport with AVT and MT, respectively, as well as their antagonist or a control. We measured two types of egg caring behavior (intense and general care) and compared the success rate of tadpole transportation after treatments. Surprisingly we found that AVT did not trigger, but decreased intense egg care behaviors in males and females. However, there was a trend for general care behavior to increase, which might explain the adverse effect regarding intense care. MT did not have an effect on egg caring behaviors, but after administration of this hormone males were less likely to transport their offspring later on. Our results indicate that AVT might be partly involved in egg caring behaviors in R. imitator, while MT does not appear to play any role in behaviors prior to tadpole transportation in males. This implies that other hormones, such as steroids or prolactin are likely to be important for early parental care behaviors in poison frogs.
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Ruano-Fajardo G, Toledo LF, Mott T. Jumping into a trap: high prevalence of chytrid fungus in the preferred microhabitats of a bromeliad-specialist frog. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2016; 121:223-232. [PMID: 27786160 DOI: 10.3354/dao03045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) has been identified as a major threat to several amphibian populations in tropical forests. Amphibians that inhabit the phytotelmata (water tanks) of bromeliads may be especially at risk of Bd infection since the humid, environmentally buffered microhabitat that they prefer might also be favorable for Bd persistence on the host. To test this hypothesis, we sampled adults and tadpoles of the bromeligenous anuran Phyllodytes edelmoi (endemic to the northern Brazilian Atlantic Forest) from the bromeliad Portea leptantha for Bd, using qPCR. We also analyzed 8 bromeliad characteristics: water tank temperature and pH, canopy closure, tank diameter, number of leaves, bromeliad maximum column depth to store water, bromeliad relative volume, and season. Adult frogs preferentially selected bromeliads with a smaller diameter, more leaves and a relatively higher volume of water. We found that Bd was more prevalent in frogs inhabiting bromeliad phytotelmata with smaller diameters, suggesting that the behavioral preferences of P. edelmoi may be driving Bd infection patterns. Therefore, species such as P. edelmoi will be trapped by their own natural history traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustavo Ruano-Fajardo
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Diversidade Biológica e Conservação nos Trópicos, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Av. Lourival Melo Mota, s/n, Tabuleiro, 57052-970 Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil
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Rojas B. Mind the gap: treefalls as drivers of parental trade-offs. Ecol Evol 2015; 5:4028-36. [PMID: 26445657 PMCID: PMC4588652 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.1648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2015] [Revised: 07/07/2015] [Accepted: 07/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Tree‐fall gaps are small‐scale disturbances whose formation, colonization, and role in forest dynamics are well documented, but whose effects on animal ecology are still greatly overlooked, except for studies comparing species richness of gaps 6+ months old to that in the closed canopy. Other factors associated with the invasion of fresh tree‐fall gaps such as animal breeding adaptations have been largely neglected. I studied the immediate (within hours and days) arrival of the poison frog Dendrobates tinctorius in new tree‐fall gaps to examine the dynamics of their invasion in relation to tadpole rearing. I found that rearing sites are occupied sooner and tadpoles deposited at higher rates in fresh gaps than in the closed forest, but that the rate of cannibalism is also much greater in the former. This suggests that invading new tree‐fall gaps can be the best parental decision when parents arrive early because they get access to fresh, high‐quality resources, but it could be to the detriment of the offspring if parents arrive late, because of overcrowding and cannibalism. These results highlight the importance of studying the earliest stages of invasions in order to have a better understanding of the composition of communities in disturbed ecosystems at later successional stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bibiana Rojas
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science Centre of Excellence in Biological Interactions University of Jyvaskyla PO Box 35 Jyväskylä 40014 Finland ; Centre for Integrative Ecology School of Life and Environmental Sciences Deakin University at Waurn Ponds Pigdons Road Geelong Vic. 3217 Australia
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Ringler E, Pašukonis A, Fitch WT, Huber L, Hödl W, Ringler M. Flexible compensation of uniparental care: female poison frogs take over when males disappear. Behav Ecol 2015; 26:1219-1225. [PMID: 26167099 PMCID: PMC4495760 DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arv069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2014] [Revised: 04/30/2015] [Accepted: 05/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Caring mothers step in for deadbeat dads. Flexible compensation has evolved as a countermeasure against reduced or lost parental care and is commonly found in biparental species. In the poison frog Allobates femoralis with obligatory male-only care, we show that females flexibly perform tadpole transport when males disappear. This demonstrates that compensatory flexibility also evolved in species with unisexual care, suggesting that parental care systems are more flexible than previously thought. Parental care systems are shaped by costs and benefits to each sex of investing into current versus future progeny. Flexible compensatory parental care is mainly known in biparental species, particularly where parental desertion or reduction of care by 1 parent is common. The other parent can then compensate this loss by either switching parental roles and/or by increasing its own parental effort. In uniparental species, desertion of the caregiver usually leads to total brood loss. In the poison frog, Allobates femoralis, obligatory tadpole transport (TT) is generally performed by males, whereas females abandon their clutches after oviposition. Nevertheless, in a natural population we previously observed 7.8% of TT performed by females, which we could link to the absence of the respective fathers. In the following experiment, under laboratory conditions, all tested A. femoralis females flexibly took over parental duties, but only when their mates were removed. Our findings provide clear evidence for compensatory flexibility in a species with unisexual parental care. Contrary to the view of amphibian parental care as being stereotypical and fixed, these results demonstrate behavioral flexibility as an adaptive response to environmental and social uncertainty. Behavioral flexibility might actually represent a crucial step in the evolutionary transition from uniparental to biparental care in poison frogs. We suspect that across animal species flexible parental roles are much more common than previously thought and suggest the idea of a 3-dimensional continuum regarding flexibility, parental involvement, and timing, when thinking about the evolution of parental care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Ringler
- Department of Integrative Zoology , ; Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna , Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna , Austria , and ; Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University of Vienna and University of Vienna , 1210 Vienna , Austria
| | - Andrius Pašukonis
- Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna , Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna , Austria , and
| | - W Tecumseh Fitch
- Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna , Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna , Austria , and
| | - Ludwig Huber
- Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University of Vienna and University of Vienna , 1210 Vienna , Austria
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Erich M, Ringler M, Hödl W, Ringler E. Brood-partitioning behaviour in unpredictable environments: hedging the bets? Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2015; 69:1011-1017. [PMID: 25983381 PMCID: PMC4425806 DOI: 10.1007/s00265-015-1913-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2015] [Revised: 03/19/2015] [Accepted: 03/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Spreading reproduction across time or space can optimize fitness by minimizing the risks for offspring survival in varying and unpredictable environments. Poison frogs (Dendrobatidae) are characterized by complex spatial and reproductive behaviour, such as territoriality, prolonged courtship and parental care. The partitioning of larvae from terrestrial clutches across several water bodies is mainly known from species with carnivorous tadpoles that allocate their tadpoles in very small pools, where limited food availability is accompanied by an increased risk of cannibalism. However, little is known about the deposition behaviour of non-carnivorous species that use medium-sized to large pools. In the present study, we investigated whether the Neotropical poison frog Allobates femoralis exhibits brood-partitioning behaviour when males transport tadpoles 3 weeks after oviposition. We sampled 30 artificial water bodies for tadpoles, which we genotyped at seven highly polymorphic microsatellite loci. Based on the reconstructed pedigree, we show that A. femoralis males distribute larvae of single and of successive clutches across several water bodies. The number of pools used was significantly associated with the number of clutches per male. Ninety-three percent of the males that were assigned to more than one clutch spread their tadpoles across several water bodies. Given the highly variable and unpredictable biotic and abiotic conditions in tropical rainforest, at the spatial scale of the study species’ behaviour, we interpret this behaviour as bet-hedging to improve offspring survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Erich
- Department of Integrative Zoology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Max Ringler
- Department of Integrative Zoology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Walter Hödl
- Department of Integrative Zoology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Eva Ringler
- Department of Integrative Zoology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria ; Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
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Albeny-Simões D, Murrell EG, Elliot SL, Andrade MR, Lima E, Juliano SA, Vilela EF. Attracted to the enemy: Aedes aegypti prefers oviposition sites with predator-killed conspecifics. Oecologia 2014; 175:481-92. [PMID: 24590205 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-014-2910-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2013] [Accepted: 02/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Oviposition habitat choices of species with aquatic larvae are expected to be influenced by both offspring risk of mortality due to predation, and offspring growth potential. Aquatic predators may indirectly influence growth potential for prey by reducing prey density and, for filter-feeding prey, by increasing bacterial food for prey via added organic matter (feces, partially eaten victims), creating the potential for interactive effects on oviposition choices. We tested the hypothesis that the mosquito Aedes aegypti preferentially oviposits in habitats with predatory Toxorhynchites larvae because of indirect effects of predation on chemical cues indicating bacterial abundance. We predicted that A. aegypti would avoid oviposition in sites with Toxorhynchites, but prefer to oviposit where bacterial food for larvae is abundant, and that predation by Toxorhynchites would increase bacterial abundances. Gravid A. aegypti were offered paired oviposition sites representing choices among: predator presence; the act of predation; conspecific density; dead conspecific larvae; and bacterial activity. A. aegypti preferentially oviposited in sites with Toxorhynchites theobaldi predation, and with killed conspecific larvae, but failed to detect preferences for other treatments. The antibiotic tetracycline eliminated the strongest oviposition preference. Both predation by Toxorhynchites and killed larvae increased bacterial abundances, suggesting that oviposition attraction is cued by bacteria. Our results show the potential for indirect effects, like trophic cascades, to influence oviposition choices and community composition in aquatic systems. Our results suggest that predators like Toxorhynchites may be doubly beneficial as biocontrol agents because of the attraction of ovipositing mosquitoes to bacterial by-products of Toxorhynchites feeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Albeny-Simões
- Departamento de Entomologia, PPG Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brasil,
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Ringler E, Pašukonis A, Hödl W, Ringler M. Tadpole transport logistics in a Neotropical poison frog: indications for strategic planning and adaptive plasticity in anuran parental care. Front Zool 2013; 10:67. [PMID: 24209580 PMCID: PMC3828580 DOI: 10.1186/1742-9994-10-67] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2013] [Accepted: 11/06/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Individuals should aim to adjust their parental behaviours in order to maximize the success of their offspring but minimize associated costs. Plasticity in parental care is well documented from various bird, mammal and fish species, whereas amphibians were traditionally assumed as being highly instinct-bound. Therefore, little is known about ‘higher’ cognitive abilities of amphibians, such as strategic planning and behavioural flexibility. Dendrobatid frogs have evolved a remarkable diversity of parental behaviours. The most noticeable of these behaviours is tadpole transport, which is obligatory in almost all species. Nonetheless, there is limited knowledge about spatial and temporal patterns of tadpole transport and the possible existence of behavioural plasticity on the individual level. In this study, we investigated correlates of tadpole transport behaviour in a natural population of the dendrobatid frog Allobates femoralis during five years. Results Tadpole transport was predominantly observed during morning hours. Although tadpoles were carried almost exclusively by males (N = 119), we also observed ten females performing this task. The parentage analysis revealed that in all cases females transported their own offspring. In contrast, four tadpole-carrying males were not the genetic fathers of the larvae they were transporting. The average clutch size of 20 eggs and our observation of an average of 8 tadpoles on the back of transporting individuals indicate that frogs do not carry entire clutches at once, and/or that they distribute their larvae across several water bodies. Contrary to the predictions from a hypothetical random search for deposition sites, the number of transported tadpoles was higher in males that travelled over longer distances. Conclusions Our results suggest a strong selective pressure on males to shift the time invested in tadpole transport to periods of low intra-specific competition. The number of tadpoles on the back of the males significantly correlated with displacement distance from the respective home territories, indicating a strategic non-random tadpole transport rather than random search for suitable tadpole deposition sites during tadpole transport. The observation of females who occasionally transported larvae supports the prevalence of adaptive plasticity in parental behaviours even in a species with a rather low level of parental care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Ringler
- Department of Integrative Zoology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
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Neotropical poison frogs: evolution’s guide to parenting, fashion and communication in a dynamic world. Evol Ecol 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s10682-013-9643-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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