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Journal article

Sire coloration influences offspring survival under predation risk in the moorfrog.

Abstract:: When breeding, male moor frogs Rana arvalis develop a bright blue dorsal coloration which varies in intensity between males. We tested whether this colour acts as a potential signal of a male's genetic quality to female moor frogs by artificially crossing pairs of males differing in the extent of the blue coloration to the same female. Maternal half-sibships provide a powerful means to detect paternal genetic effects on offspring as they control for other potentially confounding variables. We assayed the ability of offspring to survive an ecologically realistic test of fitness by exposing them to predation by the larvae of the predatory water beetle Dytiscus marginalis. Although sire's coloration did not influence tadpole body size, it did affect their ability to survive the predation trial. Offspring of bright blue males had higher survival than those of dull males when exposed to large predators, which were more voracious predators than smaller ones. Our results indicate that paternal secondary sexual traits provide information about genetic effects on offspring fitness in this species, but suggest that these effects may be context-dependent. Variable selection caused by contextual dependence may have important consequences for the evolution of female choice rules, and for the maintenance of genetic variation for both male trait and female preference.

Publication status:: Published

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APA Style

Sheldon, B., Arponen, H., Laurila, A., Crochet, P., & Merilä, J. (2003). Sire coloration influences offspring survival under predation risk in the moorfrog. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 16(6), 1288–1295.

MLA Style

Sheldon, B., et al. “Sire Coloration Influences Offspring Survival under Predation Risk in the Moorfrog.” Journal of Evolutionary Biology, vol. 16, no. 6, 2003, pp. 1288–95.

Chicago Style

Sheldon, B., H. Arponen, A. Laurila, P. Crochet, and J. Merilä. 2003. “Sire Coloration Influences Offspring Survival under Predation Risk in the Moorfrog.” Journal of Evolutionary Biology 16 (6): 1288–95.
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Publisher copy:: 10.1046/j.1420-9101.2003.00606.x

Authors

+ Sheldon, B More by this author

Institution:: University of Oxford
Division:: MPLS
Department:: Zoology
Role:: Author

+ Arponen, H More by this author

Role:: Author

+ Laurila, A More by this author

Role:: Author

+ Crochet, P More by this author

Role:: Author

+ Merilä, J More by this author

Role:: Author

Journal:: Journal of evolutionary biology More from this journal
Volume:: 16
Issue:: 6
Pages:: 1288-1295
Publication date:: 2003-11-01
DOI:: 10.1046/j.1420-9101.2003.00606.x
EISSN:: 1420-9101
ISSN:: 1010-061X

Language:: English
Keywords:: Male

Larva

Adaptation, Physiological

Pigmentation

Predatory Behavior

Female

Risk Factors

Ranidae

Sex Characteristics

Reproduction

Animals

Survival Analysis
Pubs id:: pubs:204417
UUID:: uuid:bf31513d-1f2d-4da1-9317-cd439bf29a65
Local pid:: pubs:204417
Source identifiers:: 204417
Deposit date:: 2012-12-19
ARK identifier:: ark:/29072/ora_bf31513d1f2d4da19317cd439bf29a65

Terms of use

Copyright date:: 2003

Licence:: Terms and Conditions of Use for Oxford University Research Archive

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