A1 Journal article (refereed)
Intraspecific divergence of sexual size dimorphism and reproductive strategies in a polytypic poison frog (2024)

Schlippe Justicia, L., Mayer, M., Lorioux-Chevalier, U., Dittrich, C., Rojas, B., & Chouteau, M. (2024). Intraspecific divergence of sexual size dimorphism and reproductive strategies in a polytypic poison frog. Evolutionary Ecology, 38(1-2), 121-139. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10682-023-10280-2

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Schlippe Justicia, Lia; Mayer, Martin; Lorioux-Chevalier, Ugo; Dittrich, Carolin; Rojas, Bibiana; Chouteau, Mathieu

Journal or series: Evolutionary Ecology

ISSN: 0269-7653

eISSN: 1573-8477

Publication year: 2024

Publication date: 02/12/2023

Volume: 38

Issue number: 1-2

Pages range: 121-139

Publisher: Springer

Publication country: Netherlands

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10682-023-10280-2

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/92198

Additional information: Special Issue: Developments in the study of poison frog evolutionary ecology

Abstract

Intraspecific variation in body size, both among populations and between sexes, is an important factor influencing life-history strategies. This variation might be the response to different environmental conditions, as well as natural and sexual selection, and can result in differences in behavior and reproductive strategies among populations. Here, we use the dyeing poison frog (Dendrobates tinctorius) as a model to investigate how interpopulation variation in body size and sexual size dimorphism affects reproductive strategies. As body size increased, sexual size dimorphism also increased, i.e., females were larger than males, and more so in populations with overall larger frogs. This indicates that there is a stronger selection for body size in females than in males, likely as a response to divergent reproductive investment between the sexes. Females from larger-bodied populations produced larger clutches, but the overall number of froglets produced per clutch did not differ among populations. We discuss potential causes and mechanisms that might be responsible for the observed divergence in body size, sexual size dimorphism, and reproductive strategies among populations that likely represent local adaptations. Our findings demonstrate the importance of cross-population studies, cautioning against drawing general conclusions about a species’ ecology without accounting for intraspecific variation.

Keywords: frogs; populations; reproduction (biology); size

Free keywords: body size; dendrobates tinctorius; dyeing poison frog; life history; tropical ecology

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Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2023

JUFO rating: 1