Little evidence for color- or size-based mating preferences by male strawberry poison frogs (Oophaga pumilio)

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 78(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2024

Abstract While there are many studies documenting female mating preferences across taxa, male mate choice remains relatively understudied. Male often develops when is variation in quality and thus the fitness benefits of with particular females. Specifically, males tend to prefer females traits that confer direct such as large body size, which may be linked high fecundity. Prior work has shown strawberry poison frog, Oophaga pumilio , bearing certain coloration (most female’s own color), this preference can learned through maternal imprinting. Females have been larger well. Here we test whether similar for color size exist species using two-way tests on captive bred O. . In each focal were placed an arena two stimulus females: either both same but differing color, or size. We found only weak evidence behavioral biases toward colors no females, suggesting do not predictably choose mates based these traits. Despite several aspects their natural history suggest reasons choosy, our findings cost rejection outweigh any derived from being selective mates. Studies additional populations, ideally conducted wild individuals, needed better understand range conditions under exhibit types they base choices. Significance statement To fully landscapes evolutionary trajectories result sexual selection, need how sexes act interact. widely studied, poorly understood. help bridge gap, studied frog a small brightly colored well-documented. little color. This surprising given more fecund, known color-based context male-male competition, provide parental care.

Language: Английский

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Under pressure: evidence for selection on color-related genes in poison frogs of the genus Ranitomeya

Evolutionary Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 38(5), P. 639 - 655

Published: April 12, 2024

Abstract Aposematic organisms rely on their bright conspicuous coloration to communicate potential predators that they are toxic and unpalatable. These aposematic phenotypes strongly tied survival therefore make excellent opportunities investigate the genetic underpinning of coloration. The genus Ranitomeya includes phenotypically diverse members Neotropical poison frogs native South America. Significant progress has been made in elucidating molecular mechanisms responsible for frogs, which have paved way future studies test hypotheses evolution across vertebrates. However, very little is known about whether these color related genes under positive selection. We assembled transcriptomes from publicly available data reads sets 9 different morphs display (four R. imitator , two variabilis fantastica one morph summersi ) identify protein-coding production Our results show there multiple strong selection predicted play roles melanin synthesis ( dct, tyrp1, irf4 ), iridophore development fhl1 keratin metabolism ovol1 pteridine prps1 xdh carotenoid adh1b, aldh2 ). identification affecting candidate color-pattern consistent with possibility mediate (in part) This may be attributed being directly reproduction frogs.

Language: Английский

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Mate Choice versus Mate Preference: Inferences about Color-Assortative Mating Differ between Field and Lab Assays of Poison Frog Behavior

The American Naturalist, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 193(4), P. 598 - 607

Published: Feb. 15, 2019

Codivergence of mating traits and mate preferences can lead to behavioral isolation among lineages in early stages speciation. However, limit gene flow only when expressed as choice, numerous factors might be more important than nature. In the extremely color polytypic strawberry poison frog (Oophaga pumilio), female have codiverged with most allopatric populations tested. Whether these lab-assayed predict (gene flow) wild remains unclear. We observed courting pairs a natural contact zone between red blue until oviposition or courtship termination. found color-assortative disturbed habitat high population density but not secondary forest lower density. Our results suggest O. pumilio choice also patterns that do match those predicted by preferences.

Language: Английский

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Male–male aggression is unlikely to stabilize a poison frog polymorphism

Journal of Evolutionary Biology, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 31(3), P. 457 - 468

Published: Jan. 18, 2018

Abstract Phenotypic polymorphism is common in animals, and the maintenance of multiple phenotypes a population requires forces that act against homogenizing drift selection. Male–male competition can contribute to stability when males compete primarily with same phenotype. In around contact zone between red blue lineages poison frog Oophaga pumilio , we used simulated territorial intrusions test nonexclusive predictions would direct more aggression towards (i) their own phenotype and/or (ii) most population. Males monomorphic populations flank were aggressive intruders matched local coloration. However, two polymorphic biased neither colour nor sympatry, rarer morph gains no advantage via reduced male–male from these O. populations, so male seems unlikely stabilize on its own. More broadly, results suggest potential for divergent biases maintain phenotypic diversity depends mechanism(s) generate degree which mechanisms persist sympatry.

Language: Английский

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Transcriptomic analyses during development reveal mechanisms of integument structuring and color production

Evolutionary Ecology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 38(5), P. 657 - 678

Published: Sept. 22, 2023

Abstract Skin coloration and patterning play a key role in animal survival reproduction. As result, color phenotypes have generated intense research interest. In aposematic species, can be important avoiding predation mate choice. However, we still know little about the underlying genetic mechanisms of production, particularly outside few model organisms. Here seek to understand production different colors how these undergo shifting expression patterns throughout development. To answer this, examine gene two patches(yellow green) developmental time series from young tadpoles through adults poison frog Oophaga pumilio. We identified six genes that were differentially expressed between patches every stage ( casq1, hand2, myh8, prva, tbx3, zic1). Of these, zic1 either been or implicated as other taxa. Casq1 prva buffer Ca 2+ are transporter, respectively, may preventing autotoxicity pumiliotoxins, which inhibit -ATPase activity. identify further candidate (e.g., adh, aldh1a2, asip, lef1, mc1r, tyr, tyrp1, xdh ), suite hub likely integumental reorganization during development collagen type I–IV genes, lysyl oxidases) also affect via structural organization chromatophores contribute pattern. Overall, putative types polytypic, species.

Language: Английский

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Divergence, gene flow, and the origin of leapfrog geographic distributions: The history of colour pattern variation inPhyllobatespoison‐dart frogs

Molecular Ecology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 29(19), P. 3702 - 3719

Published: Aug. 28, 2020

Abstract The geographic distribution of phenotypic variation among closely related populations is a valuable source information about the evolutionary processes that generate and maintain biodiversity. Leapfrog distributions, in which phenotypically similar are disjunctly distributed separated by one or more distinct populations, represent replicates for existence phenotype, therefore especially informative. These patterns have mostly been studied from phylogenetic perspectives to understand how common ancestry divergent evolution drive their formation. Other processes, such as gene flow between not received much attention. Here, we investigate roles divergence origin maintenance leapfrog Phyllobates poison frogs. We found evidence high levels neighbouring but over long distances, indicating exhibiting central phenotype may homogenizing effect maintains similarity, introgression ‘leapfroging’ taxa has played prominent role driver diversity . Although analyses suggest was formed through independent peripheral (i.e. leapfrogging) elevated geographically close poise alternative scenarios, history change becoming decoupled genome‐averaged divergence, cannot rule out. results highlight importance incorporating into study phenotypes, both confounding factor phylogeographic inferences.

Language: Английский

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Simple observations with complex implications: What we have learned and can learn about parental care from a frog that feeds its young

Zoologischer Anzeiger, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 273, P. 192 - 202

Published: Dec. 5, 2017

Language: Английский

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Different colour morphs of the poison frog Andinobates bombetes (Dendrobatidae) are similarly effective visual predator deterrents

Ethology, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 124(4), P. 245 - 255

Published: March 12, 2018

Abstract Aposematism is the use of warning signals to advertise unpleasant or dangerous defences potential predators. As effectiveness this strategy depends on predator learning, little variation expected in aposematic signals, as similar facilitate learning. However, are frequently variable species. Such variability could arise a result geographic interpretation that local predators give signals. We tested divergent learning hypothesis polytypic poison frog Andinobates bombetes (Anura: Dendrobatidae), focusing visual Our study was conducted two populations species located Western Andes Colombia, where individuals at some localities exhibit red dorsolateral stripes, while those others yellow stripes. deployed paraffin models imitating both forms A. size and colouration, well dull‐coloured controls, sites inhabited by either red‐striped yellow‐striped frogs. Red were attacked rates sites, brown more one sites. These results suggest colourations function similarly effective for primarily predators, regardless form previously experienced these Therefore, our do not support driver polytypism present Finally, we discuss other mechanisms may be involved evolution maintenance polytypism.

Language: Английский

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Phenotypic and genetic diversity in aposematic Malagasy poison frogs (genus Mantella)

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 9(5), P. 2725 - 2742

Published: Feb. 5, 2019

Intraspecific color variation has long fascinated evolutionary biologists. In species with bright warning coloration, phenotypic diversity is particularly compelling because many factors, including natural and sexual selection, contribute to intraspecific variation. To better understand the causes of dramatic in Malagasy poison frogs, we quantified genetic structure pattern across three closely related species, Mantella aurantiaca, crocea, milotympanum. Although our restriction site-associated DNA (RAD) sequencing approach identified clear clusters, they do not align current designations, which important conservation implications for these imperiled frogs. Moreover, results suggest that levels within this group have been overestimated, while underestimated. Within major observed distinct patterns including: populations are phenotypically similar yet genetically distinct, where breaks coincide, but high within-population We also detected admixture between two clusters. Our study suggests several mechanisms-including hybridization, drift-are contributing diversity. Ultimately, work underscores need a reevaluation how polymorphic polytypic classified, especially aposematic organisms.

Language: Английский

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Color polymorphic carnivores have faster speciation rates

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: Oct. 10, 2024

Variation in coat color is a prominent feature carnivores, thought to be shaped by environmental factors. As new traits could allow populations occupy novel niches and habitats, polymorphism may maintained balancing selection. Consequently, polymorphic species speciate more rapidly can give rise monomorphic daughter species. We thus predicted that, within the Carnivora, (i) speciation rate higher lineages, (ii) divergence between lineages recent, (iii) closely related groups, are ancestral derived. also tested whether accelerated rates relate niche breadth, measured number of occupied habitats range size. collected data 48 192 carnivore species, assessed using phylogenetic comparative methods. found that carnivores had (λ

Language: Английский

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