Reproductive site selection in a bromeliad breeding treefrog suggests complex evolutionary trade-offs.

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

SUBMITTER: Lantyer-Silva ASF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6281282 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature