At the invasion front, male cane toads (Rhinella marina) have smaller testes.

ABSTRACT: As a colonizing species expands its range, individuals at the invasion front experience different evolutionary pressures than do those at the range-core. For example, low densities at the edge of the range mean that males should rarely experience intense sperm competition from rivals; and investment into reproduction may trade-off with adaptations for more rapid dispersal. Both of these processes are predicted to favour a reduction in testis size at the invasion front. To explore effects of invasion stage in Australian cane toads (Rhinella marina), we collected and dissected 214 adult males from three regions: one in the species' range-core (northeastern Australia), and two from invasion fronts (one in northwestern Australia and one in southeastern Australia). Despite the brief duration of

SUBMITTER: Friesen CR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6684999 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature