The Evolution of Mate Choice in Spadefoot Toads

A second controversial topic in understanding how sexual selection works is explaining why males often form breeding aggregations. This behavior seems paradoxical, because, by clustering with competitors, males may reduce their reproductive success. I examined male aggregation behavior in spadefoot toads. In phonotaxis experiments, males associated with a stimulus simulating a conspecific calling male, when given a choice between conspecific and heterospecific calls. When males were presented with different conspecific calls, poor-condition males associated with the stimulus preferred by females, whereas good-condition males associated with the stimulus not preferred by females. Thus, although males aggregate with conspecifics, they adjust their positions relative to competitors depending on their condition, thereby potentially enhancing their reproductive success.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Pfennig, Karin Susan

Contributors dc:contributor

• Brawn, Jeffrey D.
• Jeffrey K. Conner

• Biology, Zoology

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(MiAaPQ)AAI9944966

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/85406