Are there costs to extended larval transport in the Trinidadian stream frog, Mannophryne trinitatis (Dendrobatidae)?

• Previous work has shown that male Mannophryne trinitatis (Dendrobatidae) carry their larvae on their backs for up to 4 days in search of a predator-free pool in which to deposit them. The experiments reported here investigated whether costs to the larvae or to the adults limit transport duration. We simulated transport durations of 0, 4, 8, and 12 days for larvae, but found no deterioration in terms of ability to grow to metamorphosis; indeed, 12-day larvae grew better than all the others. After 8 days of simulated transport, larvae had used up all their yolk reserves and begun to lose dry weight. Larvae on wet substrates gained wet weight and length but on drier substrates merely maintained weight, suggesting that dehydration could be a problem on the male's back. In a trial of locomotor performance ( mean jump length; number of jumps to traverse a runway), females performed best with calling males not significantly different from transporting males, despite an average larval load equivalent to 15-20% of the frog's mass. Assessment of gut contents showed that females foraged more than males, but that transporting males foraged as much as did calling males. We found no differences between the three classes of adult frogs in fat body weight.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Ekologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Ecology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

frogs

larval transport

Mannophryne

reproductive costs

Trinidad

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)