Asymmetric Male Mating Success in Lek-Breeding <i>Rhinella arenarum</i>
Mate choice is the attempt of an individual to gain higher reproductive fitness by preferring to mate with some individuals and not with others. We studied the role of mate choice in the mating system of the neotropical toad <i>Rhinella arenarum</i> by assessing male reproductive tactics...
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MDPI AG
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/23/3268 |
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| author | Ulrich Sinsch Katharina Hecht Silvia Kost Pablo R. Grenat Adolfo L. Martino |
| author_facet | Ulrich Sinsch Katharina Hecht Silvia Kost Pablo R. Grenat Adolfo L. Martino |
| author_sort | Ulrich Sinsch |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Mate choice is the attempt of an individual to gain higher reproductive fitness by preferring to mate with some individuals and not with others. We studied the role of mate choice in the mating system of the neotropical toad <i>Rhinella arenarum</i> by assessing male reproductive tactics for mate acquisition and the contribution of female choice for pair formation. In a shallow pond in central Argentina, we estimated male mating success and the corresponding reproductive tactics by focal observation. The variation of phenotypic and genotypic traits (size and shape, longevity, vocalization features, heterozygosity) was related to the observed mating success in 110 males. The phonotactic response of 21 reproductive females to conspecific advertisement call features was tested in arena experiments. Mating success was limited to 32 males, pair formation was size-assortative. The dominant reproductive tactics were advertising from call positions near suitable breeding sites and pre-mating fights with intruding males, whereas the interception of amplectant pairs and the displacement of mated males were never observed. Female phonotaxis was directed to conspecific choruses but complex and simple call structures were not distinguished. We conclude that the mating system is a lek combining pre-mating fights among males and female choice of slightly smaller males. Fights interfere with female choice, undermining size-assortative mating. This is a unique system in the <i>R. marina</i> species group, in which interception behavior dominates reproduction. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:54:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-20f09a57acc141debfb34c40d1d093ad |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:54:58Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-20f09a57acc141debfb34c40d1d093ad2023-11-24T10:24:18ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152022-11-011223326810.3390/ani12233268Asymmetric Male Mating Success in Lek-Breeding <i>Rhinella arenarum</i>Ulrich Sinsch0Katharina Hecht1Silvia Kost2Pablo R. Grenat3Adolfo L. Martino4Institute of Integrated Sciences, Department of Biology, University of Koblenz-Landau, D-56070 Koblenz, GermanyInstitute of Integrated Sciences, Department of Biology, University of Koblenz-Landau, D-56070 Koblenz, GermanyInstitute of Integrated Sciences, Department of Biology, University of Koblenz-Landau, D-56070 Koblenz, GermanyEcología, Departamento de Ciencias Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físico-Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Ruta Nacional N° 36—km 601, Río Cuarto X5804BYA, ArgentinaEcología, Departamento de Ciencias Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físico-Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Ruta Nacional N° 36—km 601, Río Cuarto X5804BYA, ArgentinaMate choice is the attempt of an individual to gain higher reproductive fitness by preferring to mate with some individuals and not with others. We studied the role of mate choice in the mating system of the neotropical toad <i>Rhinella arenarum</i> by assessing male reproductive tactics for mate acquisition and the contribution of female choice for pair formation. In a shallow pond in central Argentina, we estimated male mating success and the corresponding reproductive tactics by focal observation. The variation of phenotypic and genotypic traits (size and shape, longevity, vocalization features, heterozygosity) was related to the observed mating success in 110 males. The phonotactic response of 21 reproductive females to conspecific advertisement call features was tested in arena experiments. Mating success was limited to 32 males, pair formation was size-assortative. The dominant reproductive tactics were advertising from call positions near suitable breeding sites and pre-mating fights with intruding males, whereas the interception of amplectant pairs and the displacement of mated males were never observed. Female phonotaxis was directed to conspecific choruses but complex and simple call structures were not distinguished. We conclude that the mating system is a lek combining pre-mating fights among males and female choice of slightly smaller males. Fights interfere with female choice, undermining size-assortative mating. This is a unique system in the <i>R. marina</i> species group, in which interception behavior dominates reproduction.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/23/3268AnuraBufonidaereproductive behavioradvertisement callphonotaxisgood genes as heterozygosity |
| spellingShingle | Ulrich Sinsch Katharina Hecht Silvia Kost Pablo R. Grenat Adolfo L. Martino Asymmetric Male Mating Success in Lek-Breeding <i>Rhinella arenarum</i> Animals Anura Bufonidae reproductive behavior advertisement call phonotaxis good genes as heterozygosity |
| title | Asymmetric Male Mating Success in Lek-Breeding <i>Rhinella arenarum</i> |
| title_full | Asymmetric Male Mating Success in Lek-Breeding <i>Rhinella arenarum</i> |
| title_fullStr | Asymmetric Male Mating Success in Lek-Breeding <i>Rhinella arenarum</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Asymmetric Male Mating Success in Lek-Breeding <i>Rhinella arenarum</i> |
| title_short | Asymmetric Male Mating Success in Lek-Breeding <i>Rhinella arenarum</i> |
| title_sort | asymmetric male mating success in lek breeding i rhinella arenarum i |
| topic | Anura Bufonidae reproductive behavior advertisement call phonotaxis good genes as heterozygosity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/23/3268 |
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