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Zhang Y, Tan S, Fu J, Chen J. Elevational variation in metabolic rate, feeding capacity and their associations in the Asiatic toad Bufo gargarizans. J Therm Biol 2024; 119:103788. [PMID: 38281315 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2024.103788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Foraging behavior is known to place demands on the metabolic characteristics of anurans. Active foragers feeding on sedentary prey typically have high aerobic capacity and low anaerobic capacity, whereas sit-and-wait foragers feeding on active and mobile prey have the opposite pattern. Thus, the energetic demands of foraging may influence their metabolic adaptations to harsh environments, such as high elevations. Anurans that engage in active foraging have been found to increase maximum metabolic rate (MMR) and aerobic scope (AS, the difference between MMR and resting metabolic rate, RMR) at high elevations. However, data are lacking in amphibian ambush foragers. In this study, we examined the RMR, MMR, AS, and feeding capacity of a sit-and-wait forager ─the Asiatic toad (Bufo gargarizans), from two populations that are in close geographic proximity but differ by 1350 m in elevation. Our results show that there is no elevational variation in RMR and feeding capacity in either males or females. However, there are sex-specific variations in MMR and AS along an elevational gradient; females from high elevations have lower MMR and smaller net AS than their counterparts from low elevations while males maintain similar MMR and net AS across elevations. Furthermore, aerobic performances do not appear to be associated with feeding capacity at either the individual or population level. Our results support the hypothesis that sit-and-wait foragers may not increase their aerobic capacity as a strategy in hypoxic and low food availability environments and the role of sex in these adaptive adjustments should not be overlooked.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuechan Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.19 (A) Yuquan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Song Tan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, China; College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.19 (A) Yuquan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jinzhong Fu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, China; Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Jingfeng Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.19 (A) Yuquan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing, 100049, China.
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Assefa S, Abebe BK, Gobena AH. A study on egg quality and hatching traits of indigenous and exotic chickens reared in Silte zone, Southern Ethiopia. Heliyon 2023; 9:e19126. [PMID: 37636369 PMCID: PMC10458332 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate egg quality and hatchability of indigenous and exotic chickens in the midland, lowland, and highland agroecological zones of the Silte zone. One district was selected from each agroecological zone, and a total of 399 households (133 from each district) were randomly chosen from six purposefully selected Kebles to collect data on egg hatchability. For external and internal egg quality evaluation, 300 eggs (150 from indigenous and 150 from exotic chickens from each agroecology) were collected. The study found that Sasso chickens had better egg quality in terms of egg weight, yolk width, yolk height, albumen height, yolk index, and Haugh unit compared to indigenous chickens in both the highland and lowland areas. In the highland area, Sasso chickens had higher values for egg weight, yolk width, yolk height, albumen height, yolk index, and Haugh unit compared to the lowland area. This suggests that Sasso chickens performed better in terms of egg quality in both the highland and lowland areas compared to indigenous chickens. The hatchability percentages of Sasso and Koekoek chickens were 70.8 ± 14.1 and 69.7 ± 12.7, respectively, in the midland area. This suggests that Sasso and Koekoek chickens performed well in terms of hatchability, followed by indigenous chicken eggs. However, approximately 68% of respondents did not use exotic chicken eggs for hatching. The study suggests that practicing hatching of exotic chicken eggs could be beneficial in increasing the productivity of indigenous chickens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serkalem Assefa
- Department of Animal Science, Werabe University, P.O.Box 46, Werabe, Ethiopia
| | - Belete Kuraz Abebe
- Department of Animal Science, Werabe University, P.O.Box 46, Werabe, Ethiopia
| | - Ahmed Hussen Gobena
- Department of Animal Science, Werabe University, P.O.Box 46, Werabe, Ethiopia
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Nie Y, Wang Z, Yu S, Zhang L, Liu R, Liu Y, Zhu W, Zhou Z, Diao J. The combined effects of atrazine and warming on environmental adaptability in lizards (Eremias argus) from the perspective of a life-history traits trade-off: Gender differences in trade-off strategies may reverse mortality risk. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 879:163078. [PMID: 36972889 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Life-history theory suggests that organisms must distribute a limited share of their energetic resources among competing life-history trait demands. Therefore, the trade-off strategies individuals develop for particular life-history traits in a given environment may profoundly impact their environmental adaptability. In this study, lizards (Eremias. argus) were exposed to single and combined atrazine (4.0 mg·kg-1 and 20.0 mg·kg-1) and different temperatures (25 °C and 30 °C) for 8 weeks during the breeding season. The effects of atrazine and warming on the adaptability of lizards were explored by examining changes in trade-offs via several key life history traits (i.e., reproduction, self-maintenance, energy reserves, and locomotion). The results show that after atrazine exposure at 25 °C, both female and male lizards tended to allocate energy to self-maintenance by reducing energy allocation to reproductive process. The lower energy reserves of males are considered a "risky" life-history strategy and the observed higher mortality may be related to atrazine-induced oxidative damage. The retention of energy reserves by females not only ensured their current survival but also facilitated survival and reproduction in subsequent stages, which can be regarded as a "conservative" strategy. However, under high temperature and/or combined atrazine exposure, the "risky" strategy of males caused them to consume more energy reserves to invest in self-maintenance, which ensured their immediate survival, and profited from more rapid degradation of atrazine. In contrast, the "conservative" strategy of females could not meet their higher reproductive and self-maintenance demands under high temperatures, and the elevated reproductive oxidative and metabolic costs led to individual mortality. Gender differences in life-history trade-off strategies can directly lead to "winners" and "losers" from environmental stress within a species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yufan Nie
- Department of Applied Chemistry, China Agricultural University, Yuanmingyuan West Road 2, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Zikang Wang
- Department of Applied Chemistry, China Agricultural University, Yuanmingyuan West Road 2, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Simin Yu
- Department of Applied Chemistry, China Agricultural University, Yuanmingyuan West Road 2, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Luyao Zhang
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710021, China
| | - Rui Liu
- Department of Applied Chemistry, China Agricultural University, Yuanmingyuan West Road 2, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yuping Liu
- Department of Applied Chemistry, China Agricultural University, Yuanmingyuan West Road 2, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Wentao Zhu
- Department of Applied Chemistry, China Agricultural University, Yuanmingyuan West Road 2, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Zhiqiang Zhou
- Department of Applied Chemistry, China Agricultural University, Yuanmingyuan West Road 2, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jinling Diao
- Department of Applied Chemistry, China Agricultural University, Yuanmingyuan West Road 2, Beijing 100193, China.
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Yu W, Zhu Z, Zhao X, Cui S, Liu Z, Zeng Z. Altitudinal variation in life-history features of a Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau lizard. Curr Zool 2023; 69:284-293. [PMID: 37351291 PMCID: PMC10284057 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoac052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 09/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Environmental changes along an altitudinal gradient can facilitate the differentiation of life-history features in ectothermic species, but little attention has been devoted to the reciprocal influence of altitude and alpine slope directionality on life-history variation. According to life-history theory, increased environmental stress causes a change in reproductive allocation from number to quality of offspring, as well as a stronger trade-off between size and number of offspring. To clarify the influence of environmental pressures on the life-history features of the Qinghai toad-headed lizard Phrynocephalus vlangalii along an altitudinal cline, we surveyed late pregnant females from 3 populations of low (2,600 m), middle (3,400 m), and high (3,600 m) elevations in the Dangjin Mountain of Gansu, China from July to October 2019, and compared their inter-population differences in maternal body size, reproductive characteristics, offspring growth, and locomotor performance. Because of lower temperatures, higher humidity, and lower light intensity caused by slope aspect and altitude, the middle-altitude region experienced stronger environmental stress than the high- and low-altitude regions. Our results showed that females were larger at middle- and high-altitude sites and smaller at the low-altitude site, following Bergmann's rule. We also found that females from low-altitude population gave birth earlier than those from the middle and high altitudes. Our results showed a shift in the offspring size-number trade-off of P. vlangalii in response to colder and harsher environments, with lizards from the alpine steppe (i.e. the middle- and high-altitude habitats) producing fewer but larger offspring than those from the warm steppe (i.e. the low-altitude habitat). Low-altitude juveniles grew faster than high-altitude ones, but at the same rates as middle-altitude juveniles. This result demonstrates that the growth of P. vlangalii was associated with temperature and light intensity. Our findings contribute to enhancing our understanding of the altitudinal variation in life-history features of plateau ectotherms and their phenotypic plasticity or local adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Yu
- College of Wildlife Resources, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Zeyu Zhu
- College of Wildlife Resources, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Xiaolong Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- The Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Application, School of Life Science, Institute of Life Science and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, Hebei, China
| | - Shuang Cui
- College of Wildlife Resources, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Zhensheng Liu
- College of Wildlife Resources, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
- Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology, State Forestry Administration, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Zhigao Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
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Reproductive phenology of the spider Micrommata ligurina (C.L. Koch, 1845) (Araneae; Sparassidae) across an elevational gradient in Northeast Algeria. EKOLÓGIA (BRATISLAVA) 2022. [DOI: 10.2478/eko-2022-0026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Decreased ambient temperature and shorter reproductive seasons are the two main obstacles that ectotherms face at higher elevations. Studies have shown that some life history traits such as phenological windows of activity, duration, and fitness components vary as elevation increases. However, studies on the elevational gradient at the southern range limit of species are lacking. In this study, we aim at assessing some aspects of the life history of a spider species, the sprassid Micrommata ligurina (C.L. Koch, 1845), across an elevational gradient from 30 to 1030 m in Northeast Algeria. There was strong evidence of an elevational shift in the phenology of reproduction with a delay rate of 2.2 days per 100 m of elevation, and the three quantiles of the phenology (10, 50, and 90%) shifted with the same magnitude across elevation. In all sites from low to high elevation, the species showed a decrease in number of individuals. The mean number of eggs was 200 ± 35 eggs, and the mean number of hatching eggs was 110.9 ± 23.5 eggs. The clutch size at high elevation sites was higher than that of low-elevation sites, but in contrast, the hatching success was higher at lower elevation sites. Overall, the species exhibited clear elevational clines in life history traits and abundance, suggesting a high potential of plasticity. This work constitutes the first study carried out on spider species ecology in the region.
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6
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Guo Y, Lu X. Tibetan birds lay larger but fewer eggs in a clutch. Oecologia 2022; 198:1011-1018. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-022-05159-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Yu TL, Jia G, Sun HQ, Shi WH, Li XL, Wang HB, Huang MR, Ding SY, Chen JP, Zhang M. Altitudinal body size variation in Rana kukunoris: the effects of age and growth rate on the plateau brown frog from the eastern Tibetan Plateau. ETHOL ECOL EVOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/03949370.2021.1913448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tong L. Yu
- College of Life Science, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang City, SD 464000, China
| | - Geng Jia
- Operations Section, Gansu Gahai-Zecha National Nature Reserve Managenent Bureau, Hezuo City, Luqu County, SD 747200, China
| | - Hai Q. Sun
- College of Life Science, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang City, SD 464000, China
| | - Wen H. Shi
- College of International Education, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang City, SD 464000, China
| | - Xiao L. Li
- College of International Education, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang City, SD 464000, China
| | - Hai B. Wang
- College of International Education, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang City, SD 464000, China
| | - Meng R. Huang
- College of International Education, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang City, SD 464000, China
| | - Shu Y. Ding
- College of International Education, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang City, SD 464000, China
| | - Jin P. Chen
- College of Life Science, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang City, SD 464000, China
| | - Meng Zhang
- College of Life Science, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang City, SD 464000, China
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Höbel G, Kolodziej R, Nelson D, White C. Effect of body size, age and timing of breeding on clutch and egg size of female Eastern Gray Treefrogs, Hyla versicolor. AMPHIBIA-REPTILIA 2021. [DOI: 10.1163/15685381-bja10077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Information on how organisms allocate resources to reproduction is critical for understanding population dynamics. We collected clutch size (fecundity) and egg size data of female Eastern Gray Treefrogs, Hyla versicolor, and examined whether observed patterns of resource allocation are best explained by expectations arising from life history theory or by expected survival and growth benefits of breeding earlier. Female Hyla versicolor showed high between-individual variation in clutch and egg size. We did not observe maternal allocation trade-offs (size vs number; growth vs reproduction) predicted from life history theory, which we attribute to the large between-female variation in resource availability, and the low survival and post-maturity growth rate observed in the study population. Rather, clutches are larger at the beginning of the breeding season, and this variation in reproductive investment aligns with seasonal variation in ecological factors affecting offspring growth and survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerlinde Höbel
- Behavioral and Molecular Ecology Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA
| | - Robb Kolodziej
- Behavioral and Molecular Ecology Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA
- Central Lakes College, Brainerd, MN 56401, USA
| | - Dustin Nelson
- Behavioral and Molecular Ecology Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA
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Leung KW, Yang S, Wang X, Tang K, Hu J. Ecogeographical Adaptation Revisited: Morphological Variations in the Plateau Brown Frog along an Elevation Gradient on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10111081. [PMID: 34827074 PMCID: PMC8614741 DOI: 10.3390/biology10111081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary A number of studies have explored how the body size and extremities of frogs vary in response to the changing environmental conditions across different geographical gradients, but the outcomes remain controversial. Here, we studied the morphological variations of the plateau brown frog (Rana kukunoris) along an elevation gradient (~1800–3500 m) on the eastern margin of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau to understand how environmental and biological factors affect them, and to assess whether these variations help to improve thermoregulation. Although we found that male and female frogs showed different variations in body size and extremities along the elevational gradient, both of them showed a significant decrease in the ratio of extremities to body size with increasing elevation. The decreasing ratio implies a gain of thermoregulatory benefits based on the ecogeographical rules. Moreover, the morphological variations were found to be strongly related to both environmental and biological factors. These results suggest that ecogeographical adaptation in frogs may be more complicated than other terrestrial vertebrate species. Most importantly, the adaptation should be viewed as a result of both environmental and biological factors, while it may also appear as an interactive change between body size and extremities. Abstract Several anurans have broad elevational and latitudinal distribution ranges; distinct species and populations may face various environmental and selection stresses. Due to their environmental sensitivity, adaptation is critical for the long-term persistence of anurans. Previous studies have tried to identify the ecogeographical pattern and its mechanism in anurans, suggesting different patterns, but the related explanatory mechanisms are yet to be generally supported and are suggested to be complicated. To explore the elusive mechanisms, we studied the morphological variation of the plateau brown frog (Rana kukunoris) along an elevational gradient on the eastern margin of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau. Using body size, extremity length, and the ratio between them (extremities/body size) as testing indicators, we examined potential ecogeographical adaptations and investigated how environmental and biological factors could shape the morphological development in R. kukunoris. We found that males and females showed different variations in body size and extremities along the elevational gradient, whereas both of them showed a decreasing extremities/body size ratio along elevation. Together with the strong correlations between environmental and biological factors and the morphometrics, we identified ecogeographical adaptation and a sexual difference in the selective pressures on the extremities and body size of the plateau brown frog. Our results imply that geographic variations in anuran morphological traits should be understood as an outcome of environmental and biological factors. Furthermore, ecogeographical adaptation in anurans can manifest as an interactive change between body size and extremities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ka Wah Leung
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China; (K.W.L.); (S.Y.); (X.W.); (K.T.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shengnan Yang
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China; (K.W.L.); (S.Y.); (X.W.); (K.T.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xiaoyi Wang
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China; (K.W.L.); (S.Y.); (X.W.); (K.T.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ke Tang
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China; (K.W.L.); (S.Y.); (X.W.); (K.T.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Junhua Hu
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China; (K.W.L.); (S.Y.); (X.W.); (K.T.)
- Correspondence:
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10
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Abstract
Abstract
Brain size exhibits significant changes within and between species. Evolution of large brains can be explained by the need to improve cognitive ability for processing more information in changing environments. However, brains are among the most energetically expensive organs. Enlarged brains can impose energetic demands that limit brain size evolution. The expensive tissue hypothesis (ETH) states that a decrease in the size of another expensive tissue, such as the gut, should compensate for the cost of a large brain. We studied the interplay between energetic limitations and brain size evolution in small mammals using phylogenetically generalized least squares (PGLS) regression analysis. Brain mass was not correlated with the length of the digestive tract in 37 species of small mammals after correcting for phylogenetic relationships and body size effects. We further found that the evolution of a large brain was not accompanied by a decrease in male reproductive investments into testes mass and in female reproductive investment into offspring number. The evolution of brain size in small mammals is inconsistent with the prediction of the ETH.
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Seasonal Variation in Gut Microbiota Related to Diet in Fejervarya limnocharis. ANIMALS : AN OPEN ACCESS JOURNAL FROM MDPI 2021; 11:ani11051393. [PMID: 34068415 PMCID: PMC8153623 DOI: 10.3390/ani11051393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Organisms adapt to environmental fluctuations by varying their morphology and structural, physiological, and biochemical characteristics. Gut microbiome, varying rapidly in response to environmental shifts, has been proposed as a strategy for adapting to the fluctuating environment (e.g., new dietary niches). Here, we explored the adaptive mechanism of frog intestinal microbes in response to environmental changes. We collected 170 Fejervarya limnocharis during different seasons (spring, summer, autumn, and pre-hibernation) to study the compositional and functional divergence of gut microbiota and analysed the effects of seasonal feeding habits and body condition on intestinal microorganisms using 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing, Tax4Fun function prediction analysis, and bioinformatics analysis. The results showed no significant dietary difference in various seasons and between males and females. However, a significantly positive correlation was detected between dietary diversity and food niche width. Host condition (body size, body mass, and body condition) also revealed seasonal changes. The frogs were colonised by 71 bacterial phyla and dominated by Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes. Stenotrophomonas was the most abundant genus in the Proteobacteria. The composition, diversity, and function of intestinal microorganisms in different seasons were significantly different. Significant differences were observed in composition and function but not in the microbial diversity between sexes. Furthermore, seasonal foods and body mass were significantly correlated with gut microbial composition. Our results suggest that gut microbiomes of F. limnocharis vary seasonally in response to diet under fluctuating environments.
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Geographic variation in maternal investment and trade-offs between egg size and clutch size in an endemic toad of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Sci Rep 2020; 10:6838. [PMID: 32321935 PMCID: PMC7176715 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-63635-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Life history theory predicts that animals often produce fewer offspring of larger size and indicate a stronger trade-off between the number and size of offspring to cope with increasing environmental stress. In order to evaluate this prediction, we tested the life history characteristics of Bufo minshanicus at eight different altitudes on the eastern Tibetan Plateau, China. Our results revealed a positive correlation between female SVL and clutch size or egg size, revealing that larger females produce more and larger eggs. However, high-altitude toads seem to favor more offspring and smaller egg sizes when removing the effect of female SVL, which is counter to theoretical predictions. In addition, there was an overall significantly negative relationship between egg size and clutch size, indicative of a trade-off between egg size and fecundity. Therefore, we suggest that higher fecundity, rather than larger egg size, is a more effective reproductive strategy for this species of anuran living at high-altitude environments.
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13
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Frogs with denser group-spawning mature later and live longer. Sci Rep 2019; 9:13776. [PMID: 31551505 PMCID: PMC6760165 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-50368-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The understanding of the intrinsic and extrinsic causes of longevity variation has deservedly received much attention in evolutionary ecologist. Here we tested the association between longevity and spawning-site groups across 38 species of Chinese anurans. As indicators of group-spawning we used spawning-site group size and spawning-site density, which we measured at 152 spawning sites in the field. We found that both spawning-site density and group size were positively associated with longevity. Male group-spawning (e.g., male spawning-site density and male spawning-site group size) was also positively correlated with longevity. A phylogenetic path analysis further revealed that longevity seems directly associated with spawning-site density and group size, and that the association in part depend on the 'groups-spawning-age at first reproduction' association. Our findings suggest that the increased group-spawning are likely to benefit in declining extrinsic mortality rates and living longer through improving total anti-predator behaviour under predation pressure.
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Vimercati G, Davies SJ, Measey J. Invasive toads adopt marked capital breeding when introduced to a cooler, more seasonal environment. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blz119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Amphibians from cold and seasonal environments show marked capital breeding and sustained resource allocation to growth when compared with conspecifics from warmer, less seasonal environments. Capital breeding fuels reproduction by using only stored energy, and larger sizes and masses confer higher fecundity, starvation resistance and heat and water retention. Invasive populations act as experiments to explore how resources are allocated in novel environments. We investigated resource allocation of the southern African toad Sclerophrys gutturalis in a native source population (Durban) and in an invasive population recently (< 20 years) established in a cooler, more seasonal climate (Cape Town). After dissection, lean structural mass (bones and muscles), gonadal mass, liver mass and body fat percentage were measured in 161 native and invasive animals sampled at the beginning and the end of the breeding season. As expected, female gonadal mass decreased throughout the breeding season only in the invaded range. Thus, invasive female toads adopt a more marked capital breeding strategy than native conspecifics. Conversely, males from both populations appear to be income breeders. Also, male and female toads from the invaded range allocate more resources to growth than their native counterparts. Such a novel allocation strategy might be a response to the low temperatures, reduced rainfall and heightened seasonality encountered by the invasive population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Vimercati
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University, atieland, South Africa
| | - Sarah J Davies
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University, atieland, South Africa
| | - John Measey
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University, atieland, South Africa
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15
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16
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Environmental stress shapes life-history variation in the swelled-vented frog (Feirana quadranus). Evol Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10682-019-09980-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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17
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Liang T, Zhou L, He W, Xiao L, Shi L. Variations in the reproductive strategies of three populations of Phrynocephalus helioscopus in China. PeerJ 2018; 6:e5705. [PMID: 30386689 PMCID: PMC6203940 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 09/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Egg size and clutch size are key life history traits. During the breeding period, it is possible for females to increase their reproductive output either by increasing the number of eggs if the optimal egg size (OES) is maintained, or by increasing the allocation of energy to each egg. However, the strategies adopted are often influenced by animals’ morphology and environment. Methods Here, we examined variation in female morphological and reproductive traits, tested for trade-offs between egg size and clutch size, and evaluated the relationship between egg size and female morphology in three populations of Phrynocephalus helioscopus. Results Female body size, egg size, and clutch size were larger in the Yi Ning (YN) and Fu Yun (FY) populations than in the Bei Tun (BT) population (the FY and YN populations laid more, and rounder eggs). Egg size was independent of female body size in two populations (BT and FY), even though both populations had an egg-size/clutch size trade-off. In the YN population, egg size and clutch size were independent, but egg size was correlated with female body size, consistent with the hypothesis of morphological constraint. Conclusions Our study found geographical variation in body size and reproductive strategies of P. helioscopus. Egg size was correlated with morphology in the larger-bodied females of the YN population, but not in the smaller-bodied females of the BT population, illustrating that constraints on female body size and egg size are not consistent between populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Liang
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Lu Zhou
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China.,Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Wenfeng He
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Lirong Xiao
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Lei Shi
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
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18
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Zhang W, Guo R, Ai S, Yang Y, Ding J, Zhang Y. Long-term heavy metal pollution varied female reproduction investment in free-living anura, Bufo raddei. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2018; 159:136-142. [PMID: 29734069 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2018.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Revised: 04/28/2018] [Accepted: 05/01/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Environment contamination is known to affect the growth, reproduction, and even mortality of anuran species, and hence modulate their life history traits. Although knowledge of the ability of amphibians to cope with harsh environments has gained ongoing research, the reproductive strategy of free-living amphibians subjected to long-term heavy metal pollution is largely unknown. This study aimed to explore the variation in the life history traits, including age structure, maturation age, reproductive investment, and reproduction trade-off, in female Bufo raddei, a widespread anuran in Baiyin (BY) in northwest of China, subjected to sublethal heavy metal pollution. B. raddei collected from Liujiaxia (LJX), a relatively unpolluted area, were used as control. Skeletochronological analysis revealed variation in the average breeding age of females: more than 70% of females from BY began to breed 1 year before the toads collected from LJX. Females from BY tended to prioritize reproduction over survival and invested more in their first reproductive event. Further, females in BY with a high fluctuating asymmetry index showed a relatively lower reproductive investment. For trade-off in offspring number and size, BY population optimize larger clutch sizes with smaller egg size compared with population in LJX. Changes in female reproductive investment caused by heavy metal pollution might ultimately alter the structural stability of amphibian population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenya Zhang
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, PR China.
| | - Rui Guo
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, PR China
| | - Shiwei Ai
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, PR China
| | - Ying Yang
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, PR China
| | - Jian Ding
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, PR China
| | - Yingmei Zhang
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, PR China
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19
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Tong Q, Du XP, Hu ZF, Cui LY, Wang HB. Modelling the growth of the brown frog ( Rana dybowskii). PeerJ 2018; 6:e4587. [PMID: 29785337 PMCID: PMC5960263 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2017] [Accepted: 03/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Well-controlled development leads to uniform body size and a better growth rate; therefore, the ability to determine the growth rate of frogs and their period of sexual maturity is essential for producing healthy, high-quality descendant frogs. To establish a working model that can best predict the growth performance of frogs, the present study examined the growth of one-year-old and two-year-old brown frogs (Rana dybowskii) from metamorphosis to hibernation (18 weeks) and out-hibernation to hibernation (20 weeks) under the same environmental conditions. Brown frog growth was studied and mathematically modelled using various nonlinear, linear, and polynomial functions. The model input values were statistically evaluated using parameters such as the Akaike’s information criterion. The body weight/size ratio (Kwl) and Fulton’s condition factor (K) were used to compare the weight and size of groups of frogs during the growth period. The results showed that the third- and fourth-order polynomial models provided the most consistent predictions of body weight for age 1 and age 2 brown frogs, respectively. Both the Gompertz and third-order polynomial models yielded similarly adequate results for the body size of age 1 brown frogs, while the Janoschek model produced a similarly adequate result for the body size of age 2 brown frogs. The Brody and Janoschek models yielded the highest and lowest estimates of asymptotic weight, respectively, for the body weights of all frogs. The Kwl value of all frogs increased from 0.40 to 3.18. The K value of age 1 frogs decreased from 23.81 to 9.45 in the first four weeks. The K value of age 2 frogs remained close to 10. Graphically, a sigmoidal trend was observed for body weight and body size with increasing age. The results of this study will be useful not only for amphibian research but also for frog farming management strategies and decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Tong
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China.,Hejiang Forestry Research Institute of Heilongjiang Province, Jiamusi, China
| | - Xiao-Peng Du
- Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
| | - Zong-Fu Hu
- Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
| | - Li-Yong Cui
- Hejiang Forestry Research Institute of Heilongjiang Province, Jiamusi, China
| | - Hong-Bin Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
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Tang T, Luo Y, Huang CH, Liao WB, Huang WC. Variation in somatic condition and testis mass in Feirana quadranus along an altitudinal gradient. ANIM BIOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1163/15707563-17000142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
The competition for fertilization among sperm from different males can drive variation in male reproductive investments. However, the mechanisms shaping reproductive allocation and the resulting variations in reproductive investment relative to environmental variables such as resource availability and male-male competition remain poorly known in frogs. Here, we investigated inter-population variation in male somatic condition and testis mass across four populations of the swelled vent frog Feirana quadranus along an altitudinal gradient. We found that relative testis mass did not increase with altitude, which was inconsistent with previous predictions that an increase in latitude and/or altitude should result in decreased sperm production in anurans due to shortened breeding seasons and the decline in resource availability. We also found no increase in somatic condition and male/female operational sex ratio with altitude. However, the somatic condition exhibited a positive correlation with testis mass, which indicated the condition-dependent testis size in F. quadranus. Moreover, an increase of testis mass with increasing male/female operational sex ratio suggest that male-male competition can result in an increased intensity of sperm competition, thereby increasing testis mass.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Tang
- 1Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong, 637009, Sichuan, China
- 2Institute of Eco-adaptation in Amphibians and Reptiles, China West Normal University, Nanchong, 637009, Sichuan, China
| | - Yi Luo
- 1Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong, 637009, Sichuan, China
- 2Institute of Eco-adaptation in Amphibians and Reptiles, China West Normal University, Nanchong, 637009, Sichuan, China
| | - Chun Hua Huang
- 1Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong, 637009, Sichuan, China
- 2Institute of Eco-adaptation in Amphibians and Reptiles, China West Normal University, Nanchong, 637009, Sichuan, China
| | - Wen Bo Liao
- 1Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong, 637009, Sichuan, China
- 2Institute of Eco-adaptation in Amphibians and Reptiles, China West Normal University, Nanchong, 637009, Sichuan, China
| | - Wen Chao Huang
- 3Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, 610000, Sichuan, China
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Yang SN, Feng H, Jin L, Zhou ZM, Liao WB. No evidence for the expensive-tissue hypothesis in Fejervarya limnocharis. ANIM BIOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1163/15707563-17000094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Because the brain is one of the energetically most expensive organs of animals, trade-offs have been hypothesized to exert constraints on brain size evolution. The expensive-tissue hypothesis predicts that the cost of a large brain should be compensated by decreasing size of other metabolically costly tissues, such as the gut. Here, we analyzed the relationships between relative brain size and the size of other metabolically costly tissues (i.e., gut, heart, lung, kidney, liver, spleen or limb muscles) among four Fejervarya limnocharis populations to test the predictions of the expensive-tissue hypothesis. We did not find that relative brain size was negatively correlated with relative gut length after controlling for body size, which was inconsistent with the prediction of the expensive-tissue hypothesis. We also did not find negative correlations between relative brain mass and relative size of the other energetically expensive organs. Our findings suggest that the cost of large brains in F. limnocharis cannot be compensated by decreasing size in other metabolically costly tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Nan Yang
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong, 637009, Sichuan, China
| | - Hao Feng
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong, 637009, Sichuan, China
| | - Long Jin
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong, 637009, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhao Min Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong, 637009, Sichuan, China
| | - Wen Bo Liao
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong, 637009, Sichuan, China
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22
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Yu TL, Xu Y, Busam M, Deng YH. Maternal investment decreases under stressful environments in 11 plateau brown frog (Rana kukunoris) populations. ETHOL ECOL EVOL 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/03949370.2017.1336117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tong Lei Yu
- College of Life Science, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang, China
| | - Yu Xu
- College of Life Science, Guizhou Normal University, Guizhou, China
| | - Michael Busam
- College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Yao Hui Deng
- College of Life Science, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang, China
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23
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Ameline C, Puzin C, Bowden JJ, Lambeets K, Vernon P, Pétillon J. Habitat specialization and climate affect arthropod fitness: a comparison of generalist vs. specialist spider species in Arctic and temperate biomes. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blx014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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24
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Life-History Responses to the Altitudinal Gradient. HIGH MOUNTAIN CONSERVATION IN A CHANGING WORLD 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-55982-7_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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25
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Mai CL, Liu YH, Jin L, Mi ZP, Liao WB. Altitudinal variation in somatic condition and reproductive investment of male Yunnan pond frogs (Dianrana pleuraden). ZOOL ANZ 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcz.2016.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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26
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Yang S, Huang X, Zhong M, Liao W. Geographical variation in limb muscle mass of the Andrew’s toad (Bufo andrewsi). ANIM BIOL 2017. [DOI: 10.1163/15707563-00002518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Muscles are vital for the process of movement, mating and escape of predators in amphibians. During evolution, the morphological and genetic characteristics as well as the size of muscles in species will change to adapt different environments. Theory predicts that low male-male competition in high-altitude/latitude selects for small limb muscles. Here, we used the Andrew’s toad (Bufo andrewsi) as a model animal to test this prediction by analyzing geographical variation in the mass of limb muscles across nine populations from the Hengduan Mountains in China. Inconsistent with the prediction, we found that latitude and altitude did not affect the relative mass of total combined limb muscles and mass of combined hindlimb muscles among populations. Meanwhile, the relative mass of combined forelimb muscles, the two forelimb muscles (flexor carpi radialis and extensor carpi radialis) and the four hindlimb muscles (e.g. biceps femoris, semimebranous, semitendinosus and peroneus) was lowest in middle latitude and largest in low latitude whereas gracilis minor was largest in high latitudes. However, we did not find any correlations between the two forelimb muscles and the four hindlimb muscles and altitude. Our findings suggest that combined forelimb muscles, flexor carpi radialis, extensor carpi radialis, biceps femoris, semimebranous, semitendinosus and peroneus are largest in low latitudes due to pressures of mate competition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Nan Yang
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiao Fu Huang
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, Sichuan, China
| | - Mao Jun Zhong
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, Sichuan, China
| | - Wen Bo Liao
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, Sichuan, China
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, China
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Wang W, Zhang R, Yin Q, Zhang S, Li W, Li D, Mi Z. Digestive tract length is positively correlated with altitude across Fejervarya limnocharis populations. ANIM BIOL 2017. [DOI: 10.1163/15707563-00002534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
In animals, the amount of nutrients acquired through foraging and the proportion of metabolisable energy gained is reflected in the digestive tract length. This digestion theory predicts that the consumption of food with high content of indigestible material will lead to increased gut dimensions. Here, we analyzed geographic variation in digestive tract length related to diet among 14 Fejervarya limnocharis populations to test the digestion theory. Relative digestive tract length significantly differed between males and females and among populations. The relative length of the digestive tract increased with altitude. We also found a positive correlation between the proportion of plant material and digestive tract length for both sexes, which is consistent with the prediction of the digestion theory. Our findings suggest that variation in temperature associated with altitude affects food composition, and, thereby ultimately gut morphology of individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Yu Wang
- 1College of Wildlife Resources, Northeast Forestry University, Hexing Road 26, Harbin 150040, China
- 2College of Life Science and Agriculture Forestry, Qiqihar University, Wenhua Street 42, Qiqihar 161006, China
| | - Rong Zhang
- 3Micangshan Nature Reserve, Wangcang, 628200, Sichuan, China
| | - Qing Xiao Yin
- 3Micangshan Nature Reserve, Wangcang, 628200, Sichuan, China
| | - Shi Peng Zhang
- 3Micangshan Nature Reserve, Wangcang, 628200, Sichuan, China
| | - Wen Qin Li
- 4Key Laboratory of Southwest China, Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
| | - Da Yong Li
- 4Key Laboratory of Southwest China, Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
| | - Zhi Ping Mi
- 4Key Laboratory of Southwest China, Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
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Lu X, Ma X, Fan L, Hu Y, Lang Z, Li Z, Fang B, Guo W. Reproductive ecology of a Tibetan frog Nanorana parkeri (Anura: Ranidae). J NAT HIST 2016. [DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2016.1205155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xin Lu
- Department of Ecology, College of Life Sciences, Institute for Advanced Studies, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaoyan Ma
- Department of Ecology, College of Life Sciences, Institute for Advanced Studies, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Liqing Fan
- Department of Ecology, College of Life Sciences, Institute for Advanced Studies, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yigang Hu
- Department of Ecology, College of Life Sciences, Institute for Advanced Studies, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zedong Lang
- Department of Ecology, College of Life Sciences, Institute for Advanced Studies, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhibin Li
- Department of Ecology, College of Life Sciences, Institute for Advanced Studies, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Bohao Fang
- Department of Ecology, College of Life Sciences, Institute for Advanced Studies, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Weibin Guo
- Department of Ecology, College of Life Sciences, Institute for Advanced Studies, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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Altitude underlies variation in the mating system, somatic condition, and investment in reproductive traits in male Asian grass frogs (Fejervarya limnocharis). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-016-2128-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
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30
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Liao WB, Luo Y, Lou SL, Lu D, Jehle R. Geographic variation in life-history traits: growth season affects age structure, egg size and clutch size in Andrew's toad (Bufo andrewsi). Front Zool 2016; 13:6. [PMID: 26865855 PMCID: PMC4748633 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-016-0138-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2015] [Accepted: 01/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Environmental variation associated with season length is likely to promote differentiation in life-history traits, but has been little studied in natural populations of ectotherms. We investigated patterns of variation in egg size, clutch size, age at sexual maturity, maximum age, mean age, growth rate and adult body size in relation to growth season length among 17 populations of Andrew’s toad (Bufo andrewsi) at different latitudes and altitudes in the Hengduan Mountains, western China. Results We found that egg size, age at sexual maturity, and mean age increased with decreasing length of the growth season, whereas clutch size showed a converse cline. Body size did not increase with decreasing length of the growth season, but was tightly linked to lifetime activity (i.e. the estimated number of active days during lifetime). Males and females differed in their patterns of geographic variation in growth rates, which may be the result of forces shaping the trade-off between growth and reproduction in different environments. Conclusions Our findings suggest that growth season plays an important role in shaping variation in life-history traits in B. andrewsi across geographical gradients. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12983-016-0138-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Bo Liao
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong, 637009 Sichuan China
| | - Yi Luo
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong, 637009 Sichuan China
| | - Shang Ling Lou
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong, 637009 Sichuan China
| | - Di Lu
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong, 637009 Sichuan China
| | - Robert Jehle
- School of Environment & Life Sciences, University of Salford, M5 4WT Salford, UK
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Jin L, Mi ZP, Liao WB. Altitudinal variation in male reproductive investment in a polyandrous frog species (Hyla gongshanensis jingdongensis). ANIM BIOL 2016. [DOI: 10.1163/15707563-00002505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Competition for fertilization in multi-male group spawning can drive variation in male reproductive investment (i.e., testis mass and sperm size). Inter-population comparisons of variation in energetic availability and allocation along geographical gradients allow insights into the mechanisms shaping the reproductive investments of animals. Although inter-population differences in female reproductive investment (i.e., clutch size and egg size) have been studied extensively across a wide range of taxa, little information on variation in reproductive investment in males is available. Here, we studied altitudinal variation in testis mass and sperm length among three populations in the Jingdong tree frog (Hyla gongshanensis jingdongensis), a polyandrous species, in Yunnan Province in China. The results showed that individuals exhibited smaller testes at higher altitudes while testes mass was positively correlated with body size, body condition and age. Longer sperm length was observed in the middle-altitude population. Moreover, we found that sperm number was positively correlated with testes mass and sperm length. Our correlational findings suggest that environmental constraints at high altitude select for less investment in testes and offspring number.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long Jin
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
| | - Zhi Ping Mi
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
| | - Wen Bo Liao
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
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Ma XH, Zhong MJ, Jin L, Mi ZP, Liao WB. Digestive tract adaptation associated with temperature and precipitation in male Bufo andrewsi. ANIM BIOL 2016. [DOI: 10.1163/15707563-00002504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The digestive tract provides a functional relationship between energy intake and allocation. An understanding of effects of environmental factors on the evolution of digestive tract morphology is especially important. To investigate this, we studied the variation in digestive tract length across 10 populations of the Andrew’s toad (Bufo andrewsi) between 2012 and 2015 in Sichuan province, western China. These populations were collected in different habitats varying in temperature and precipitation. The results reveal an increase in the length of the digestive tract and gut with increasing temperature and decreasing precipitation, when controlling for the effect of body size. Our findings suggest that individuals of populations living in high-temperature and low-precipitation environments have longer digestive tracts, possibly because they consume less animal-based foods and more high-fiber foods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Hui Ma
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, Sichuan, China
| | - Mao Jun Zhong
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, Sichuan, China
| | - Long Jin
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhi Ping Mi
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, Sichuan, China
| | - Wen Bo Liao
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, Sichuan, China
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