Putting Eggs in One Basket: Ecological and Evolutionary Hypotheses for Variation in Oviposition-Site Choice

Refsnider, Jeanine M.; Janzen, Fredric J.

doi:10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-102209-144712

Cited by 325 publications

(299 citation statements)

References 119 publications

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“…These apparent preferences may be linked to familiarity of rearing environment that can alter subsequent behaviour in fishes 36,37 . However, they could alternatively be an innate behaviour linked to requirements for optimal habitat, and specifically the requirements for self-protection, egg laying and brood care 38 . Small females may be unable to defend shelter on rock habitat because of competition from large growing females, but they may be favoured on shell habitat as they can escape predators and lay eggs deep enough in shells to avoid the numerous egg predators, including freshwater crabs 26 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Competition-driven speciation in cichlid fish

et al. 2014

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Theoretically, competition can initiate divergence in habitat use between individuals of a species, leading to restricted gene flow and eventual speciation. Evidence that sister species differ in habitat use is commonplace and consistent with this mechanism, but empirical experimental support is surprisingly scarce. Here we provide evidence that competition has taken a key role in the evolution of genetically distinct ecomorphs of the Lake Tanganyika cichlid fish Telmatochromis temporalis. Experiments show that differences in substrate use between a large-bodied rock-living ecomorph and a neighbouring small-bodied shell-living ecomorph are mediated by size-dependent competition that drives assortative mate-pair formation. Specifically, adults of the larger ecomorph outcompete adults of the smaller ecomorph on favoured rock substrate, compelling the smaller adults to use shell habitat. These results support a role for competition in maintaining reproductive isolation, and highlight the need to identify ecological processes that impose selection to improve our understanding of speciation and adaptive radiation.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Competition-driven speciation in cichlid fish

et al. 2014

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“…By selecting suitable thermal microenvironments, free-living individuals can maintain stable body temperatures near their physiological optimum during activity (Avery 1982;Huey 1982;Angilletta et al 2002;Christian et al 2006). In contrast, the egg-bound embryos of oviparous species (most reptiles) were long assumed to be at the mercy of the nest environment (e.g., Shine et al 1997;Ackerman and Lott 2004;Refsnider and Janzen 2010). Recent work, however, has demonstrated that the embryos of many amniotes-including species of turtle, crocodile, snake, and bird-adjust their positions within the egg in response to thermal gradients, actively moving toward or away from external heat sources (Du et al 2011;Zhao et al 2013;Li et al 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reptile Embryos Lack the Opportunity to Thermoregulate by Moving within the Egg

Telemeco

Gangloff

Cordero

et al. 2016

The American Naturalist

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Historically, egg-bound reptile embryos were thought to passively thermoconform to the nest environment. However, recent observations of thermal taxis by embryos of multiple reptile species have led to the widely discussed hypothesis that embryos behaviorally thermoregulate. Because temperature affects development, such thermoregulation could allow embryos to control their fate far more than historically assumed. We assessed the opportunity for embryos to behaviorally thermoregulate in nature by examining thermal gradients within natural nests and eggs of the common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina; which displays embryonic thermal taxis) and by simulating thermal gradients within nests across a range of nest depths, egg sizes, and soil types. We observed little spatial thermal variation within nests, and thermal gradients were poorly transferred to eggs. Furthermore, thermal gradients sufficiently large and constant for behavioral thermoregulation were not predicted to occur in our simulations. Gradients of biologically relevant magnitude have limited global occurrence and reverse direction twice daily when they do exist, which is substantially faster than embryos can shift position within the egg. Our results imply that reptile embryos will rarely, if ever, have the opportunity to behaviorally thermoregulate by moving within the egg. We suggest that embryonic thermal taxis instead represents a play behavior, which may be adaptive or selectively neutral, and results from the mechanisms for behavioral thermoregulation in free-living stages coming online prior to hatching. KeywordsChelydra serpentina, microclim, nest, play, soil, snapping turtle, temperature Disciplines Ecology and Evolutionary Biology | Evolution | Population Biology CommentsThis article is from The American Naturalist 188 (2016) abstract: Historically, egg-bound reptile embryos were thought to passively thermoconform to the nest environment. However, recent observations of thermal taxis by embryos of multiple reptile species have led to the widely discussed hypothesis that embryos behaviorally thermoregulate. Because temperature affects development, such thermoregulation could allow embryos to control their fate far more than historically assumed. We assessed the opportunity for embryos to behaviorally thermoregulate in nature by examining thermal gradients within natural nests and eggs of the common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina; which displays embryonic thermal taxis) and by simulating thermal gradients within nests across a range of nest depths, egg sizes, and soil types. We observed little spatial thermal variation within nests, and thermal gradients were poorly transferred to eggs. Furthermore, thermal gradients sufficiently large and constant for behavioral thermoregulation were not predicted to occur in our simulations. Gradients of biologically relevant magnitude have limited global occurrence and reverse direction twice daily when they do exist, which is substantially faster than embryos can shift position within the...

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“…Spawning in more protected sites may compose a strategy to decrease predation vulnerability of the couple and their offspring, since predation seems an aspect of major importance for oviposition-site choice in many anurans (Magnusson & Hero, 1991;Refsnider & Janzen, 2010). Therefore, predation may be minimized by access to suitable habitats, which provide resources and conditions for which several males may compete during reproduction.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…other anurans, snakes, birds and mammals) (Kluge, 1981;Magnusson & Hero, 1991;Martins et al, 1993). Proximity with reproduction period and sequential filling of suitable habitats may also force some satellite males to build their nests in suboptimal habitats subjected to high levels of predation and drying of water inside nest (Martins & Haddad, 1988;Martins, 1993a;Refsnider & Janzen, 2010). Under such conditions, male reproductive success should decrease owing to lower chances of female oviposition in an unprotected nest.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…hidden sites with a high percentage of vegetation cover) also minimize external disturbances on water surface film, increasing both couple reproductive success and offspring survival (Kluge 1981, Refsnider & Janzen, 2010. Moreover, when nests are built in protected sites, males do not need to renovate them constantly, and can spend more time attracting females or keeping intruders away and taking care for their offspring (Kluge, 1981;Martins et al, 1998).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Nest site selection by Hypsiboas faber(Anura, Hylidae) in Southern Brazil

Luza

Silva

Failace

et al. 2015

Iheringia, Sér. Zool.

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ABSTRACT. Male gladiator frogs of Hypsiboas Wagler, 1830 build nests on available substrate surrounding ponds and streams where female spawn eggs during the breeding period. Although gladiator frogs seem to show plasticity in the way they construct their nests, there is no study reporting if these species present preferences about microhabitat conditions for nest-building (mainly under subtropical climate). Predation pressure and environmental conditions have been considered major processes shaping the great diversity of reproductive strategies performed by amphibians, but microhabitat conditions should explain where to build a nest as well as how nest looks. This study aimed to test nest site selection for nest-building by Hypsiboas faber (Wied-Neuwied, 1821), determining which factors are related to nest site selection and nest features. The survey was conducted at margins of two permanent ponds in Southern Brazil. Habitat factors were evaluated in 18 plots with nest and 18 plots in the surrounding without nest (control), describing vegetation structure and heterogeneity, and substrate characteristics. Water temperature was measured inside the nest and in its adjacency. Nest features assessed were area, depth and temperature. Habitat characteristics differed between plots with and without nest. Microhabitat selected for nest-building was characterized by great vegetation cover and height, as well as shallower water and lower cover of organic matter in suspension than in plots without nest. Differences between temperature inside nest and in its adjacency were not observed. No relationship between nest features and habitat descriptors was evidenced. Results revealed that Hypsiboas faber does not build nests anywhere. Males seem to prefer more protected habitats, probably avoiding predation, invasion of conspecific males and inclement weather. Lack of differences between temperature inside-and outside-nest suggest that nest do not improve this condition for eggs and tadpole development. Nest architecture was not related to habitat characteristics, which may be determined by other factors, as nest checking by females before amplexus. Nest site selection should increase offspring survival as well the breeding success of Hypsiboas faber. KEYWORDS.Amphibian reproductive modes, Anura life-history, nest-building anurans, nest features, oviposition site. RESUMO. Seleção de sítio para nidificação de Hypsiboas faber (Anura, Hylidae) no sul do Brasil. Machos de espécies de Hypsiboas Wagler, 1830 constroem ninhos no substrato disponível no entorno de corpos d'água; as fêmeas depositam os ovos no interior destes ninhos durante a reprodução da espécie. Embora estes machos apresentem plasticidade na escolha de sítios para construção dos ninhos, ainda não existem avaliações de preferências por condições específicas de microhabitat para a nidificação (principalmente em clima subtropical). A pressão de predação e as condições ambientais são consideradas os principais processos moldando a diversidade de estratégias reprodutivas em...

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Putting Eggs in One Basket: Ecological and Evolutionary Hypotheses for Variation in Oviposition-Site Choice

Cited by 325 publications

References 119 publications

Competition-driven speciation in cichlid fish

Competition-driven speciation in cichlid fish

Reptile Embryos Lack the Opportunity to Thermoregulate by Moving within the Egg

Nest site selection by Hypsiboas faber(Anura, Hylidae) in Southern Brazil

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