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Nali RC, Zamudio KR, Prado CPA. Hybridization despite elaborate courtship behavior and female choice in Neotropical tree frogs. Integr Zool 2023; 18:208-224. [PMID: 35041294 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The mechanisms of hybridization can be elucidated by analyzing genotypes as well as phenotypes that could act as premating barriers, as the reproductive interactions among heterospecifics can alter the evolutionary history of species. In frogs, hybrids typically occur among species that reproduce explosively (in dense aggregations) with few opportunities for mate selection but are rare in species with elaborate courtship behaviors that may prevent erroneous mating. Using 21 microsatellite markers, we examined hybridization in the prolonged-breeding tree frogs Bokermannohyla ibitiguara and B. sazimai sampled within a contact zone in the Brazilian savanna (72 tadpoles; 74 adults). We also compared acoustic and morphological data. We confirmed both parental species genetically; STRUCTURE results confirmed 14 hybrids, 11 of which were second-generation according to NEWHYBRIDS, all with intermediate values of genetic dissimilarities compared to the parentals. Morphological and acoustic analyses revealed that hybrids showed variable but not necessarily intermediate phenotypes. Moreover, 2 hybrids exhibited call types different from parentals. The reproduction of B. ibitiguara involves territorial and aggressive males, elaborate courtships with acoustic and tactile stimuli, choosy females, and opportunistic strategies. Our study uncovers a rare case of viable hybridization among closely related frogs with such a combination of complex courtship behaviors and mate choice. We discuss the likely directionality and mechanisms behind this phenomenon, and highlight the importance of investigating hybridization even in species that show elaborate reproduction and female choice to advance our understanding of animal diversification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renato C Nali
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Evolução e Biodiversidade, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Kelly R Zamudio
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA.,Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Cynthia P A Prado
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Evolução e Biodiversidade, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil.,Departamento de Morfologia e Fisiologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil
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2
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Green DM. Rarity of Size-Assortative Mating in Animals: Assessing the Evidence with Anuran Amphibians. Am Nat 2019; 193:279-295. [DOI: 10.1086/701124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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3
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Dittrich C, Rodríguez A, Segev O, Drakulić S, Feldhaar H, Vences M, Rödel MO. Temporal migration patterns and mating tactics influence size-assortative mating in Rana temporaria. Behav Ecol 2018; 29:418-428. [PMID: 29622935 PMCID: PMC5873255 DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arx188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2017] [Revised: 10/20/2017] [Accepted: 12/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Assortative mating is a common pattern in sexually reproducing species, but the mechanisms leading to assortment remain poorly understood. By using the European common frog (Rana temporaria) as a model, we aim to understand the mechanisms leading to size-assortative mating in amphibians. With data from natural populations collected over several years, we first show a consistent pattern of size-assortative mating across our 2 study populations. We subsequently ask if assortative mating may be explained by mate availability due to temporal segregation of migrating individuals with specific sizes. With additional experiments, we finally assess whether size-assortative mating is adaptive, i.e. influenced by mating competition among males, or by reduced fertilization in size-mismatched pairs. We find that size-assortative mating is in accordance with differences in mate availability during migration, where larger individuals of both sexes reach breeding ponds earlier than smaller individuals. We observe an indiscriminate mate choice behavior of small males and an advantage of larger males pairing with females during scramble competition. The tactic of small males, to be faster and less discriminative than large males, may increase their chances to get access to females. Experimental tests indicate that the fertilization success is not affected by size assortment. However, since female fecundity is highly correlated with body size, males preferring larger females should maximize their number of offspring. Therefore, we conclude that in this frog species mate choice is more complex than formerly believed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolin Dittrich
- Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ariel Rodríguez
- TU Braunschweig, Zoologisches Institut, Evolutionsbiologie, Braunschweig, Germany
- University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Institute of Zoology, Hannover, Germany
| | - Ori Segev
- University of Haifa, Faculty of Science, Institute of Evolution, Community Ecology Lab, Haifa, Israel
| | - Sanja Drakulić
- Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Berlin, Germany
| | - Heike Feldhaar
- University of Bayreuth, Animal Population Ecology, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Miguel Vences
- TU Braunschweig, Zoologisches Institut, Evolutionsbiologie, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Mark-Oliver Rödel
- Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
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Vági B, Hettyey A. Intraspecific and interspecific competition for mates: Rana temporaria males are effective satyrs of Rana dalmatina females. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-016-2156-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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5
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Matsumoto Y, Takegaki T. Male coercive mating in externally fertilizing species: male coercion, female reluctance and explanation for female acceptance. Sci Rep 2016; 6:24536. [PMID: 27087584 PMCID: PMC4834473 DOI: 10.1038/srep24536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2015] [Accepted: 03/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Male coercive mating exerts a strong evolutionary pressure on mating-related traits of both sexes. However, it is extremely rare in externally fertilizing species probably because the male mating behaviour is incomplete until females release their eggs. Here we showed that males of the externally fertilizing fish Rhabdoblennius nitidus coercively confine females to the nests until spawning, and investigated why females accept male coercive mating. The females entered the males’ nests following male courtship displays, but they usually tried to escape when there were no eggs because males tended to cannibalize all the eggs when there were few. Most males that used small, tight nests acquired new eggs but with experimentally enlarged nests, 90% of the males without eggs failed to confine the females. Spawning tended to occur during the early/late spawning period in nests with no eggs (i.e. male coercive mating). In the nests where the first eggs were deposited in the early period, subsequent matings with other females were more likely to occur, whereas in the late period, most parental care of the eggs failed without additional matings. The females that spawned in the late period may have been compelled to accept male coercive mating due to time constraints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukio Matsumoto
- Center for Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture, Tohoku National Fisheries Research Institute, Fisheries Research Agency, Iwate, Japan
| | - Takeshi Takegaki
- Graduate School of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
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Stewart KA, Wang R, Montgomerie R. Extensive variation in sperm morphology in a frog with no sperm competition. BMC Evol Biol 2016; 16:29. [PMID: 26832366 PMCID: PMC4735968 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-016-0601-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2015] [Accepted: 01/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Recent comparative studies of several taxa have found that within-species variation in sperm size decreases with increasing levels of sperm competition, suggesting that male-male gamete competition selects for an optimal sperm phenotype. Previous studies of intraspecific sperm length variation have all involved internal fertilizers where some other factors—e.g., sperm storage and sperm movement along the walls of the female’s reproductive tract—probably also influence and reduce sperm size variation. Thus external fertilizers, where those factors are absent, might be expected to exhibit even more variation when there is little or no sperm competition. To test that idea, we studied the sperm morphology of a North American chorus frog, the spring peeper (Pseudacris crucifer), a species in which males encounter little or no sperm competition. Results As expected, sperm size was highly variable in the spring peeper, largely due to variation in flagellum length within and among individual males, among populations and between mitochondrial lineages in southwestern Ontario. In addition, a large proportion of spermatozoa in all males was abnormal in such a way that the ability of abnormal spermatozoa to fertilize was probably compromised. There were no differences in the frequencies of abnormalities among populations or mitochondrial lineages. Conclusions In the absence of sperm competition, we suggest that genetic drift has probably played a role in the generation of diversity in sperm morphology in this species, potentially resulting in the observed differences among populations. Such interpopulation difference in sperm morphology might be expected to increase the degree of reproductive isolation between populations even before other isolating mechanisms evolve. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12862-016-0601-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn A Stewart
- Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada. .,College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 1239 Siping Rd, P R China.
| | - Rachel Wang
- Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada.
| | - Robert Montgomerie
- Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada.
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Mangold A, Trenkwalder K, Ringler M, Hödl W, Ringler E. Low reproductive skew despite high male-biased operational sex ratio in a glass frog with paternal care. BMC Evol Biol 2015; 15:181. [PMID: 26334630 PMCID: PMC4558732 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-015-0469-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2015] [Accepted: 08/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reproductive skew, the uneven distribution of reproductive success among individuals, is a common feature of many animal populations. Several scenarios have been proposed to favour either high or low levels of reproductive skew. Particularly a male-biased operational sex ratio and the asynchronous arrival of females is expected to cause high variation in reproductive success among males. Recently it has been suggested that the type of benefits provided by males (fixed vs. dilutable) could also strongly impact individual mating patterns, and thereby affecting reproductive skew. We tested this hypothesis in Hyalinobatrachium valerioi, a Neotropical glass frog with prolonged breeding and paternal care. RESULTS We monitored and genetically sampled a natural population in southwestern Costa Rica during the breeding season in 2012 and performed parentage analysis of adult frogs and tadpoles to investigate individual mating frequencies, possible mating preferences, and estimate reproductive skew in males and females. We identified a polygamous mating system, where high proportions of males (69 %) and females (94 %) reproduced successfully. The variance in male mating success could largely be attributed to differences in time spent calling at the reproductive site, but not to body size or relatedness. Female H. valerioi were not choosy and mated indiscriminately with available males. CONCLUSIONS Our findings support the hypothesis that dilutable male benefits - such as parental care - can favour female polyandry and maintain low levels of reproductive skew among males within a population, even in the presence of direct male-male competition and a highly male-biased operational sex ratio. We hypothesize that low male reproductive skew might be a general characteristic in prolonged breeders with paternal care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Mangold
- Department of Integrative Zoology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Katharina Trenkwalder
- Department of Integrative Zoology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Max Ringler
- Department of Integrative Zoology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Walter Hödl
- Department of Integrative Zoology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Eva Ringler
- Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, A- 1210, Vienna, Austria.
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Mokkonen M, Lindstedt C. The evolutionary ecology of deception. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2015; 91:1020-1035. [PMID: 26118820 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2014] [Revised: 05/29/2015] [Accepted: 06/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Through dishonest signals or actions, individuals often misinform others to their own benefit. We review recent literature to explore the evolutionary and ecological conditions for deception to be more likely to evolve and be maintained. We identify four conditions: (1) high misinformation potential through perceptual constraints of perceiver; (2) costs and benefits of responding to deception; (3) asymmetric power relationships between individuals and (4) exploitation of common goods. We discuss behavioural and physiological mechanisms that form a deception continuum from secrecy to overt signals. Deceptive tactics usually succeed by being rare and are often evolving under co-evolutionary arms races, sometimes leading to the evolution of polymorphism. The degree of deception can also vary depending on the environmental conditions. Finally, we suggest a conceptual framework for studying deception and highlight important questions for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikael Mokkonen
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, PO Box 35, Jyväskylä 40014, Finland. .,Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada.
| | - Carita Lindstedt
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Centre of Excellence in Biological Interactions, University of Jyväskylä, PO Box 35, Jyväskylä 40014, Finland
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Hettyey A, Vági B, Kovács T, Ujszegi J, Katona P, Szederkényi M, Pearman PB, Griggio M, Hoi H. Reproductive interference between Rana dalmatina and Rana temporaria affects reproductive success in natural populations. Oecologia 2014; 176:457-64. [PMID: 25138258 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-014-3046-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2014] [Accepted: 08/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Experimental evidence suggests that reproductive interference between heterospecifics can seriously affect individual fitness; support from field studies for such an effect has, however, remained scarce. We studied reproductive interference in 25 natural breeding ponds in an area where two ranid frogs, Rana dalmatina and Rana temporaria, co-occur. The breeding seasons of the two species usually overlap and males of both species are often found in amplexus with heterospecific females, even though matings between heterospecifics produce no viable offspring. We estimated species abundance ratios based on the number of clutches laid and evaluated fertilization success. In ponds with low spatial complexity and a species abundance ratio biased towards R. temporaria, the average fertilization success of R. dalmatina eggs decreased, while this relationship was not detectable in spatially more complex ponds. Fertilization success of R. temporaria did not decrease with increasing relative numbers of heterospecifics. This asymmetry in fitness effects of reproductive interference may be attributed to R. temporaria males being more competitive in scramble competition for females than R. dalmatina males. Our study is among the first to demonstrate that in natural breeding populations of vertebrates interference among heterospecifics has the potential to substantially lower reproductive success at the population level, which may in turn affect population dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Attila Hettyey
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria,
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Sztatecsny M, Preininger D, Freudmann A, Loretto MC, Maier F, Hödl W. Don't get the blues: conspicuous nuptial colouration of male moor frogs (Rana arvalis) supports visual mate recognition during scramble competition in large breeding aggregations. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2012; 66:1587-1593. [PMID: 23162205 PMCID: PMC3496481 DOI: 10.1007/s00265-012-1412-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2012] [Revised: 09/03/2012] [Accepted: 09/05/2012] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Conspicuous male colouration is expected to have evolved primarily through selection by female choice. In what way conspicuous colours could be advantageous to males scrambling for mates remains largely unknown. The moor frog (Rana arvalis) belongs to the so-called explosive breeders in which spawning period is short; intrasexual competition is strong, and males actively search and scramble for females. During breeding, male body colouration changes from a dull brown (similar to females) to a conspicuous blue, and we wanted to test if male blueness influences mating success or facilitates male mate recognition. To do so, we first measured the colour of mated and non-mated males using a spectrophotometer. In an experiment, we then analysed interactions of actual male moor frogs in natural spawning aggregations with a brown (resembling a female or a non-breeding male) and a blue model frog. Mated and non-mated males did not differ in colouration, suggesting that female choice based on colour traits was unlikely. In our behavioural experiment, male moor frogs spent significantly more time in contact and in amplexus with the brown model than with the blue model. Our results suggest that the nuptial colouration in moor frogs can act as a new type of visual signal in anurans evolved to promote instantaneous mate recognition allowing males to quickly move between rivals while scrambling for females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Sztatecsny
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
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Polačik M, Reichard M. Asymmetric reproductive isolation between two sympatric annual killifish with extremely short lifespans. PLoS One 2011; 6:e22684. [PMID: 21850233 PMCID: PMC3151246 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0022684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2011] [Accepted: 06/27/2011] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Interspecific reproductive isolation is typically achieved by a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic barriers. Behavioural isolating barriers between sympatric, closely related species are often of primary importance and frequently aided by extrinsic factors causing spatial and temporal interspecific separation. Study systems with a severely limited role of extrinsic factors on reproductive isolation may provide valuable insights into how reproductive isolation between sympatric species is maintained. We used no-choice experimental set-up to study reproductive barriers between two closely related sympatric African killifish species, Nothobranchius furzeri and Nothobranchius orthonotus. These fish live in small temporary savannah pools and have complete spatial and temporal overlap in reproductive activities and share a similar ecology. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We found that the two species display largely incomplete and asymmetric reproductive isolation. Mating between N. furzeri males and N. orthonotus females was absent under standard experimental conditions and eggs were not viable when fish were forced to mate in a modified experimental setup. In contrast, male N. orthonotus indiscriminately mated with N. furzeri females, the eggs were viable, and offspring successfully hatched. Most spawnings, however, were achieved by male coercion and egg production and embryo survival were low. Behavioural asymmetry was likely facilitated by mating coercion from larger males of N. orthonotus and at relatively low cost to females. Interestingly, the direction of asymmetry was positively associated with asymmetry in post-mating reproductive barriers. SIGNIFICANCE We showed that, in fish species with a promiscuous mating system and multiple matings each day, selection for strong mate preferences was relaxed. This effect was likely due to the small proportion of resources allocated to each single mating and the high potential cost to females from mating refusal. We highlight and discuss the fact that males of rarer species may often coercively mate with females of a related, more abundant species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matej Polačik
- Department of Fish Ecology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Brno, Czech Republic.
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Byrne PG, Roberts JD. Evolutionary causes and consequences of sequential polyandry in anuran amphibians. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2011; 87:209-28. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-185x.2011.00191.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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14
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Paternity control for externally fertilised eggs: behavioural mechanisms in the waterfrog species complex. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2010. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-010-0934-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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