How Likely Is Male Mate Choice Among Anurans?

Abstract

Male mate choice has received considerable attention in recent years. This phenomenon rarely has been demonstrated in anuran mating systems, nonetheless, male choice has been suggested as having a significant impact on some anuran pairing patterns. Here I present a quantitative model that predicts the potential and prevalence of male mate choice in nine anuran species with data available in the literature. Males of only four of the nine species (Bufo americanus, B. bufo, B. exsul, and Rana sylvatica) are predicted to reject females under Normal conditions; in those cases only the smallest 1% to 5% of the females, respectively, should be rejected. By contrast, male Bufo conorus, B. cognatus, Hyla rosenbergi, Physalaemus pustulosus, and Rana catesbeiana are not expected to reject females of any size. Not until operational sex ratios became lm: lf and search times were reduced to 30%, on average, of normal values will reject and accept strategies become equally prevalent. Thus for these nine anuran species, the quantitative model presented here elucidates why the extent of male mate choice may be very limited, and why it is not expected to exert a strong influence on mating dynamics or pairing patterns.