Behavioral and morphological contrasts on the reproduction of two prolonged breeders of the genus Physalaemus (Anura: Leptodactylidae).

Rodrigo Cajade,Diego O Pietro,Mirta L GarcÍa,NÉstor G Basso

doi:10.1590/0001-3765202020180773

Abstract

The reproduction is one of the main events in the life of an organism, and anurans stand out among vertebrates because of the diversity of their reproductive strategies. We studied the reproduction of two syntopic species, Physalaemus aff. albonotatus and P. santafecinus, and comparatively described their reproductive activity pattern, advertisement calls, calling sites, daily calling activity, amplexus behavior, foam nests, and microhabitats in foam nests. In regards to the reproductive activity pattern, both species were defined as prolonged breeders. However, P. santafecinus exhibited a behavior like explosive breeders: it had a faster reproductive response against rains than P. aff. albonotatus. The calling activity was restricted exclusively to night hours in P. santafecinus, whereas P. aff. albonotatus called during both night and day. The advertisement calls of both species showed a rich harmonic structure, and were characterized by a bimodal harmonic dominance. The species differed significantly in microhabitat calling sites, foam nests, and microhabitats in foam nests. Namely, P. santafecinus frequently called and constructed its nests in sites more exposed than those of P. aff. albonotatus. The general differences in reproductive behaviors observed between the species principally agree with their different reproductive activity patterns.

Highlights

Anuran reproduction varies greatly in mating systems, oviposition modes, reproductive activity patterns, behaviors, fecundity, and development (Duellman & Trueb 1994)
In P. aff. albonotatus the maximum reproductive activity was concentrated during the second sub-period while in P. santafecinus this was observed during the first sub-period (Fig. 1)
The number of calling males in P. aff. albonotatus was significantly and positively correlated with the precipitation that occurred one day before the census (n= 34; rs = 0.449; p < 0.001); in P. santafecinus calling males were correlated with the precipitation that occurred on the day of the census (n = 34; rs = 0.426; p < 0.01)

Summary

Introduction

Anuran reproduction varies greatly in mating systems, oviposition modes, reproductive activity patterns, behaviors, fecundity, and development (Duellman & Trueb 1994). Such diversification of reproductive strategies is exclusive among terrestrial vertebrates and has allowed anurans to colonize a wide variety of habitats around the world (Duellman & Trueb 1994, Todd 2007, Gomez-Mestre et al 2012). This varied strategies caught the attention of biologists, who have since described the reproductive biology of many anuran species, established basic patterns of reproduction

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