Territoriality and Male Mating Success in the Green Frog (Rana Clamitans)

Abstract

Territorial behavior of Rana clamitans was studied in an enclosed experimental pond. Males maintained territories from June through August. Most o o occupied more than one site during the breeding season. Most sites were occupied for < I wk before changing ownership, but some were occupied by a single o for up to 7 wk. Large o o remained at individual sites longer and spent more total time in territories than small o o. The smallest o o usually acquired territories only after other o o had abandoned them, while larger o o sometimes ousted residents with aggressive behavior. Males sometimes adopted a satellite role in the territories of other o o and waited for sites to becomeavailable. Individual territory sites were ranked by relative quality based on the physical structure of the sites. Female choice of mates appeared to be related to territory quality, and especially to density of vegetation in the water. Males that spent the most time in high quality territories acquired the largest number of mates. The social system of the green frog probably evolved as a result of intense o-o competition for mates. This in turn is probably related to its prolonged summer breeding season.

Advertisement and release calls of Phyllomedusa ayeaye (Anura: Hylidae) with comments on the social context of emission

“…We suggest that the composite advertisement call emitted by P. ayeaye is a mixed call, with one part possibly directed to females (short notes, advertisement) and the other directed to males (long notes, aggressiveness; see below). Male territoriality and reproductive success are often related in anurans (e.g., WELLS 1977, URSPRUNG et al 2011) although the emission of aggressive territorial signals might represent energy expenditure that could be used to attract females (WELLS 1988, LINGNAU et al 2004). Males of P. ayeaye tend to maintain territories along a stream (M.M.…”

Return rates of male hylid frogs Litoria genimaculata, L. nannotis, L. rheocola and Nyctimystes dayi after toe-tipping

“…Calling is energetically expensive (reviewed by Wells 2001, 2007, McLister 2003 and would require males to forage, venturing away from the original stream capture site. Call territories may also be left voluntarily in response to environmental fluctuations in territory quality (Wells 1977), to avoid predators (Howard 1978b), during amplexus (Fellers 1979) or as a result of male-male aggression (Howard 1978a, Rowley 2007, Phillott 2008. Predation, disease and permanent dispersal may also lower the return rates on successive nights (Howard 1978a In the absence of information on the return rates of Litoria genimaculata, L. nannotis, L. rheocola and Nyctimystes dayi after marking with PIT tags, visible implant alphanumeric tags or visible implant elastomer tags, no comparisons can be drawn on the efficacy of each method.…”

Comportamento territorial e de acasalamento de Phyllomedusa azurea (Anura, Hylidae) em uma lagoa temporária do centro-oeste do Brasil

“…Male Phyllomedusa azurea occupy the same locations at the pond on consecutive nightsthis can be considered as territorial behavior (Wells 1977b), because there is competition for limited resources, such as calling, breeding, and feeding sites. Territoriality also can occur if the presence of sufficient resources is unpredictable, as would be the case with the arrival of receptive females (Wells 1977a, Costa 2008.…”

“…However, the strategy of an active search pattern also is observed for this species. According to Wells (1977b), male frogs use three strategies to obtain a territory. (1) With the onset of calling activity, the male occupies a site and defends it from intruding males.…”