Calling activity determines male mating success in a territorial frog with parental care

A contentious aspect in dendrobatoid frog behaviour is the recognition of the predominant factor—if any—driving male mating success. This is probably related to an extensive correlation among different male quality predictors. Here, we investigated the diurnal and territorial nurse frog Allobates su...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ethology 2021-04, Vol.127 (4), p.359-365
Main Authors: Souza, Jesus R. D., Kaefer, Igor L., Lima, Albertina P., Bertram, Susan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amphibians
Animal reproduction
Aromobatidae
Body size
Breeding seasons
Dendrobatoidea
Diurnal
Females
Food availability
Mate selection
Mating
Multiple regression analysis
Nesting
nurse frogs
reproductive behaviour
sexual selection
Success
Territorial behavior
Territory
Vegetation cover
vocal activity
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Summary:A contentious aspect in dendrobatoid frog behaviour is the recognition of the predominant factor—if any—driving male mating success. This is probably related to an extensive correlation among different male quality predictors. Here, we investigated the diurnal and territorial nurse frog Allobates subfolionidificans by means of a field study during one entire breeding season in Brazilian Amazonia. We tested the roles of two intrinsic male properties (body size and calling activity) and five territory‐related variables (territory size, vegetation cover, nesting site, perch height and food availability) on male reproductive output. A multiple regression analysis revealed calling activity as the only variable predicting male mating success in A. subfolionidificans. Vocalisation probably represents the most energetically expensive activity that a male frog undertakes during his lifetime, thus calling activity may be used by A. subfolionidificans females as a cue to mate choice that indicates competitive potential and male quality. Alternatively, non‐choosy females also should be more likely to encounter and mate with males that advertise more often throughout the breeding season. Effect of calling activity on male mating success in the Amazonian nurse frog Allobates subfolionidificans.
ISSN:0179-1613
1439-0310
DOI:10.1111/eth.13135