Unexpected reproductive fidelity in a polygynous frog

Author(s)

de Sa, Fabio P. ^{[1, 2]} ; Consolmagno, Rafael C. ^[3] ; Muralidhar, Pavitra ^[4] ; Brasileiro, Cinthia A. ^[3] ; Zamudio, Kelly R. ^[5] ; Haddad, Celio F. B. ^{[1, 2]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Paulista UNESP, Ctr Aquicultura, Rio Claro, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Estadual Paulista UNESP, Dept Biodiversidade, Rio Claro, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Ciencias Biol, Diadema, SP - Brazil

^[4] Harvard Univ, Dept Organism & Evolutionary Biol, Cambridge, MA 02138 - USA

^[5] Cornell Univ, Dept Ecol & Evolutionary Biol, Ithaca, NY - USA

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: SCIENCE ADVANCES; v. 6, n. 33 AUG 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Polygynous mating systems with group fidelity are a common animal organization, typically consisting of multiple females in a mated group with a single male for an extended period (sometimes referred to as harem polygyny). Single-male polygyny with reproductive fidelity occurs in invertebrates, bony fishes, and some tetrapods, such as lizards, mammals, and birds. In amphibians, reproductive fidelity in polygynous groups is not fully demonstrated. Combining data on larval development, molecular paternity assignment, and in situ behavioral observations, we reveal high fidelity during a prolonged breeding season in a Neotropical polygynous frog. Males dominate scarce breeding sites, guarding offspring, and mating exclusively with multiple females that exhibit dominance rank. This system likely evolved in response to intense competition for breeding sites and intrasexual competition for mates. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/24972-4 - Evolutionary processes in Cycloramphus (Anura, Cycloramphidae): speciation in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest
• Grantee: Fábio Perin de Sá
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 13/50741-7 - Diversity and conservation of Brazilian amphibians
• Grantee: Célio Fernando Baptista Haddad
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 08/50928-1 - Speciation of frogs in high-altitude environments
• Grantee: Célio Fernando Baptista Haddad
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 18/17993-6 - Relatedness among adult neighbors and their saxicolous offspring in Cycloramphus boraceiensis (Anura, Cycloramphidae)
• Grantee: Fábio Perin de Sá
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 12/17220-0 - Diversity of anuran amphibians in the Atlantic Forest: origin, maintenance, and conservation
• Grantee: Célio Fernando Baptista Haddad
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research
• FAPESP's process: 16/06876-3 - Genomic and phenotypic diversification in the genus Cycloramphus at multiple taxonomic scales (Anura, Cycloramphidae)
• Grantee: Fábio Perin de Sá
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 12/00205-9 - Parental relationship between guardian males of Thoropa taophora (Anura, Cycloramphidae) and their saxicolous offsprings
• Grantee: Fábio Perin de Sá
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree