Feeding Affects Male Treefrog Breeding Behavior
Author Information
Author(s): Ivonne Meuche, Ulmar T. Grafe
Primary Institution: University of Würzburg
Hypothesis
If breeding behaviour is energetically limited, then males should lose body condition between their first and last night in the breeding chorus.
Conclusion
Males that received additional energy from feeding increased their calling rate, which is beneficial for attracting females.
Supporting Evidence
- Fed males returned to the chorus sooner than unfed males.
- Fed males called more often than control males.
- Both fed and unfed males lost weight during the study.
Takeaway
When male treefrogs eat more, they can call more often to attract female frogs, even if they don't stay in the chorus longer.
Methodology
The study involved feeding male treefrogs crickets and observing their chorus tenure and calling rates.
Potential Biases
Potential biases could arise from the method of marking and monitoring the frogs.
Limitations
The study was limited to a specific geographic area and may not generalize to all treefrog populations.
Participant Demographics
The study focused on male European treefrogs (Hyla arborea) in southern Germany.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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