Bigger Is Not Always Better: Females Prefer Males of Mean Body Size in Philautus odontotarsus.

ABSTRACT: Most species are believed to evolve larger body sizes over evolutionary time. Previous studies have suggested that sexual selection, through male-male competition and female choice, favors larger males. However, there is little evidence of selection against large size. The female serrate-legged small treefrogs (Philautus odontotarsus) must carry passive males from leks to breeding grounds over relatively long distances after amplexus to find a suitable place to lay eggs. The costs of large male size may therefore decrease mating success due to reduced agility and/or higher energy requirements. Thus, we hypothesized that selection would not favor larger males in P. odontotarsus. Females can assess male body size on the basis of the dominant frequency of male calls in frogs. To assess female

SUBMITTER: Zhu B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4762700 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature