Seasonal Variation in Reproductive Traits of the Oviparous Water Snake, Natrix maura, in the Ebro Delta of Northeastern Spain

Santos, Xavier; Llorente, Gustavo A.

doi:10.2307/1565905

Cited by 25 publications

(32 citation statements)

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“…These snakes ovulate large-yolked eggs enclosed in an acellular, proteinaceous, shell membrane, both characteristics retained from oviparous ancestors, as exemplified by species of the genera Natrix (Santos and Llorente, 2001) and Elaphe (Blackburn et al, 2003). Embryonic nutrition is derived primarily from egg yolk (lecithotrophy) and placental transfer of inorganic ions occurs in representatives of each of the major clades.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolutionary transformations of the fetal membranes of viviparous reptiles: A case study of two lineages

Stewart

Thompson

2003

J. Exp. Zool.

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The reptilian placenta is a composite structure formed by a functional interaction between extraembryonic membranes and the maternal uterus. Study of placental structure of squamate reptiles over the past century has established that each of the multiple independent origins of placentation, which characterize the reproductive diversity of squamates, has resulted from the evolutionary transformation of these homologous structures. Because each evolutionary transformation is an independent novel relationship between maternal and embryonic tissues, the resulting placentae are not homologous, even though the individual components may be. The evolution of reptilian placentation should reveal much about evolutionary patterns and mechanisms because similar structural-functional systems have been transformed along parallel trajectories on multiple occasions. We compared extraembryonic membrane and placental development and pattern of embryonic nutrition in thamnophiine snakes and Pseudemoia lizards in the context of recent hypotheses of phylogenetic relationships. Two primary types of placentation, chorioallantoic and yolk sac, evolved in each lineage. Smooth, highly vascular regions of chorioallantoic placentation are indistinguishable homoplasies that evolved in parallel, likely to facilitate respiratory exchange. The yolk sac placenta of each lineage is specialized for histotrophic nutrient transfer, yet composition of these structures differs because of variation in the ancestral snakes and lizards. In addition, the omphalopleure that contributes to yolk sac placentation persists to later embryonic stages compared to oviparous outgroups, but the two lineages have evolved different structures that prevent replacement of the omphalopleure by the allantois. Each lineage has also evolved unique structural specializations of the chorioallantoic placenta.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolutionary transformations of the fetal membranes of viviparous reptiles: A case study of two lineages

Stewart

Thompson

2003

J. Exp. Zool.

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“…However, Richard et al (2005) found that high performing males (males with high fitness) were intermediate aged, and young and old males performed worst, clearly contrasting with this hypothesis. Second, larger males are more likely to produce fertile sperm than small males (Boretto and Ibargüengoytía 2006; Olsson and Madsen 1998;Santos and Llorente 2001;Van Wyk 1995). Females may thus prefer larger males at the first copulation to increase the probability of obtaining viable sperm, suggesting that they may hedge against unfertile sperm.…”

Section: Matting Patternsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Theoretical models predict that in species with indeterminate growth, females should prefer larger males, given that larger males are longer lived and given that longevity may indicate viability in the current environment (Jennions et al 2001;Kokko and Mappes 2005;Zahavi 1975). Furthermore, in several species, including reptiles, larger males are more likely to produce fertile sperm (Boretto and Ibargüengoytía 2006;Olsson and Madsen 1998;Santos and Llorente 2001;Van Wyk 1995). Consequently, female preference for larger males may lead to an increased probability of clutch fertilization and to increased offspring viability.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…We sequentially presented males in random order to a female and observed the copulation behaviour. Since body size and body condition are known to be important predictors of individual fitness in the common lizard Fitze and Le Galliard 2008; see also Boretto and Ibargüengoytía 2006;Olsson and Madsen 1998;Santos and Llorente 2001;Van Wyk 1995 for other lizard species) we concentrated our analyses on these two traits. If female mate choice is directional, we predict that females should consistently mate with larger males (Fitze and Le Galliard 2008), leading to a positive correlation between the first and the second copulating males' traits and to repeatable male characteristics among a female's copulations.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Mating order-dependent female mate choice in the polygynandrous common lizard Lacerta vivipara

2009

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Recent studies indicate that directional female mate choice and order-dependent female mate choice importantly contribute to non-random mating patterns. In species where females prefer larger sized males, disentangling different hypotheses leading to non-random mating patterns is especially difficult, given that male size usually correlates with behaviours that may lead to non-random mating (e.g. size-dependent emergence from hibernation, male fighting ability). Here we investigate female mate choice and order-dependent female mate choice in the polygynandrous common lizard (Lacerta vivipara). By sequentially presenting males in random order to females, we exclude non-random mating patterns potentially arising due to intra-sexual selection (e.g. male-male competition), trait-dependent encounter probabilities, trait-dependent conspicuousness, or trait-dependent emergence from hibernation. To test for order-dependent female mate choice we investigate whether the previous mating history affects female choice. We show that body size and body condition of the male with which a female mated for the first time were bigger and better, respectively, than the average body size and body condition of the rejected males. There was a negative correlation between body sizes of first and second copulating males. This indicates that female mate choice is dependent on the previous mating history and it shows that the female's choice criteria are non-static, i.e. non-directional. Our study therefore suggests that context-dependent female mate choice may not only arise due to genotype-environment interactions, but also due to other female mating strategies, i.e. order-dependent mate choice. Thus context-dependent female mate choice might be more frequent than previously thought.

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“…The proportion of adult females that reproduce within individual snake populations in a given year may be positively related to body condition at the start of the breeding year (Diller & Wallace, 1984;, food availability during the breeding year (Andrén, 1982;Shine & Madsen, 1997) or be unrelated (Santos & Llorente, 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of body condition and prey availability on female breeding success in the smooth snake (Coronella austriaca Laurenti)

Reading

2004

Journal of Zoology

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A study of individually marked smooth snakes Coronella austriaca was carried out in Wareham Forest, southern England between 1992 and 2001. On average, approximately one-third of potential breeding females reproduced each year and within this group, the proportion breeding was positively correlated with snout-vent length (SVL). Successful breeders had a higher than average body condition at the start of the breeding year compared with unsuccessful breeders. The density of gravid females was positively correlated with prey density in the breeding year but not in the year preceding it. No significant relationships were found between the density of non-breeding females and prey density in either the breeding year or the preceding year. Although most breeding females did not produce young in consecutive years, a small proportion did. There was a weak positive relationship between clutch size and female SVL. This study suggests that the potential for female smooth snakes to breed is provided by stored energy reserves but that this potential is regulated by prey availability in the breeding year.

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Seasonal Variation in Reproductive Traits of the Oviparous Water Snake, Natrix maura, in the Ebro Delta of Northeastern Spain

Cited by 25 publications

References 0 publications

Evolutionary transformations of the fetal membranes of viviparous reptiles: A case study of two lineages

Evolutionary transformations of the fetal membranes of viviparous reptiles: A case study of two lineages

Mating order-dependent female mate choice in the polygynandrous common lizard Lacerta vivipara

The influence of body condition and prey availability on female breeding success in the smooth snake (Coronella austriaca Laurenti)

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