Body size implications on the mating success in South American Redbelly toads (Anura: Bufonidae: Melanophryniscus) from the Paranaense Forest
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.30972/fac.3518506Keywords:
Sexual selection, Melanophryniscus, Paranaense forest, ArgentinaAbstract
Melanophryniscus species from the Selva Paranaense exhibit explosive reproductive strategies and larger males might have greater reproductive success in direct competition for females. The goal of this contribution was to analyze whether there is a difference in body size between males captured amplexing and non-amplexing, in the three Melanophryniscus species (M. atroluteus, M. devincenzii and M. Krauczukii) of Paranaense Forest (27°29'25.00 ‘S, 55°40'7.30 ’W), Misiones, Argentina. For this, the following body traits were considered: snout-vent length, arm length and body mass. The differences were evaluated using Type III General Linear Models. In general, males in amplexus showed equal or lower mean values for the three body traits compared to non-amplexing males. Our findings suggest that body size is not under selective pressure and may not play a significant role in mating success in the studied population.
Downloads
References
Baldo, D. and N.G. Basso (2004). A new species of Melanophryniscus Gallardo, 1961 (Anura: Bufonidae), with comments on the species of the genus reported for Misiones, northeastern Argentina. Journal of Herpetology 38: 393-403.
Bidau, C.J., D.A. Martí and D. Baldo (2011). Inter and intraspecific geographic variation of body size in South American redbelly toads of the genus Melanophryniscus Gallardo, 1961 (Anura: Bufonidae). Journal of Herpetology 45: 66-74.
Blanckenhorn, W.U. (2000). The evolution of body size: what keeps organisms small? Quarterly Review of Biology 75: 385-407.
Buzatto, A.B., Thyer, E.M., Roberts, J.D. and L.W. Simmons (2017). Sperm competition and the evolution of precopulatory weapons: Testis size and amplexus position, but not arm strength, affect fertilization success in a chorusing frog. Evolution 71: 329-341.
Darwin, C. (1871). The descent of man, and Selection in relation to sex, Vol. 1. John Murray.
Deforel, F., A.S. Duport-Bru, S. D. Rosset, D. Baldo and F. Vera Candioti (2021). Osteological atlas of Melanophryniscus (Anura, Bufonidae): a synthesis after 150 years of skeletal studies in the genus. Herpetological Monographs 35: 1-27.
Duellman, W.E. (1970). The hylid frogs of Middle America. Monographs, Museum of Natural History, University of Kansas 1: 1-753.
Gastón, M.S. and M. Vaira (2020). Male mating success is related to body condition and stress-induced leukocyte response in an anuran with scramble competition. Canadian Journal of Zoology 98: 391-398.
Goldberg, J., S.I. Quinzio and M. Vaira (2006). Oviposition-site selection by the toad
Melanophryniscus rubriventris in an unpredictable environment in Argentina. Canadian Journal of Zoology 84: 699-705.
Halliday, T. and P. Verrell (1986). Review: Sexual Selection and Body Size in Amphibians. Herpetological Journal 1: 86-92.
Howard, R.D. and A.G. Kluge (1985). Proximate mechanisms of sexual selection in wood frogs. Evolution 39: 260-277.
Marangoni, F. and D. Baldo (2023). Life-history traits of three syntopic species of the South American Redbelly toads (Anura: Bufonidae: Melanophryniscus) from the Atlantic Forest of Argentina. Herpetological Conservation and Biology 18: 213-228.
Morrison, C. and J.M. Hero (2003). Geographic variation in life‐history characteristics of amphibians: a review. Journal of Animal Ecology 72: 270-279.
Smirina, E. M. (1972). Annual layers in bones of Rana temporaria. Zoologichesky Zhurnal 51: 1529-1534.
StatSoft, Inc. (2007). STATISTICA (data analysis software system), version 8.0. www.statsoft.com.
Vaira, M. (2005). Annual variation of breeding patterns of the toad, Melanophryniscus rubriventris (Vellard, 1947). Amphibia-Reptilia 26: 193-199.
Vaira M., M. Akmentins, M. Attademo, D. Baldo, D.A. Barrasso, S. Barrionuevo, N., Basso, B. Blotto, S. Cairo, R. Cajade, et al. (2012). Categorización del estado de conservación de los anfibios de la República Argentina. Cuadernos de Herpetología 26:131-159.
Zank C., F.G. Becker, M. Abadie, D. Baldo, R. Maneyro, and M. Borges-Martins (2014). Climate Change and the Distribution of Neotropical Red-Bellied Toads (Melanophryniscus, Anura, Amphibia): How to Prioritize Species and Populations? PLoS ONE 9(4): e94625.
