1. Spawning behaviour of Engystomops pustulatus (Anura: Leptodactylidae)
- Author
-
Santiago R. Ron and Andrea E. Narváez
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,0301 basic medicine ,Amphibian ,Ecology ,Leptodactylidae ,Engystomops pustulatus ,Biodiversity ,Biology ,Plant litter ,biology.organism_classification ,010603 evolutionary biology ,01 natural sciences ,Predation ,03 medical and health sciences ,030104 developmental biology ,Engystomops ,Nest ,biology.animal ,Desiccation ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics ,Taxonomy - Abstract
Foam nests have evolved independently in several amphibian groups as an adaptive response to prevent predation and desiccation in dry environments. Nests are normally laid on ponds, or in underground galleries, humid forest leaf litter or terrestrial bromeliads. They are built when males or females beat a foam precursor associated with the egg masses extruded by the female. The spawning process requires the synchronic actions of the mating pair to obtain a hemispheric nest that protects the offspring. Herein, we describe the spawning behaviour of Engystomops pustulatus based on videos from 13 nesting couples from the lowlands of western Ecuador. Three variables were measured as indicators of male effort: duration of mixing events, duration of resting periods, and number of kicks per mixing event. We consider that not only male physical effort but also female behaviour influences nest structure. We suggest that nest building requires prolonged and intense physical activity by the male as well as th...
- Published
- 2016