Male size does not correlate with fertilization success in two bufonid toads that show size-assortative mating  

作　　者：Xiao-Li FAN Zhi-Hua LIN Xiang JI 

机构地区：[1]Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing210046, Jiangsu, China [2]College of Ecology, Lishui University, Lishui 323000, Zhejiang, China

出　　处：《Current Zoology》2013年第6期740-746,共7页动物学报（英文版）

摘　　要：We examined sexual size dimorphism （SSD）, mating pattem, fertilization efficiency and female reproductive traits in two bufonid toads （Bufo gargarizans and Duttaphrynus melanostictus） to test the idea that importance of male body size for egg fertilization success depends on the mating pattern. Female-biased SSD was evident only in D. melanostictus. Female B. gar- garizans laid fewer larger eggs nearly three months earlier than did female D. melanostictus. Fertilization efficieneies on average were higher in B. gargarizans （95%） than in D. melanostictus （91%）. Though differing in the degree of SSD, body size, breeding season, clutch size, egg size and fertilization efficiency, the two toads were similar in four aspects： （1） both showed size-assortative mating; （2） females did not tradeoff egg size against egg number; （3） male size, clutch size and clutch dry mass were greater in male-larger than in female-larger pairs after accounting for female snout-vent length （SVL）; and （4） the ratio of male to female SVL did not affect fertilization efficiency. Our data show that： （1） a female preference for large males is likely not important in terms of egg fertilization success; （2） a male preference for large females is likely important because larger females are more fecund; and （3） size-assortative mating arises from a male preference for large females. Our study demonstrates that male size is not always important for egg fertilization success in anurans that show size-assortative mating.

关 键 词：AMPHIBIA BUFONIDAE Bufo gargarizans Duttaphrynus melanostictus Mating pattem FECUNDITY Reproductiveoutput Body size 

分 类 号：S865.241[农业科学—野生动物驯养] TP334.1[农业科学—畜牧兽医]