Reproductive Phenology of Five Species of Terrestrial Frogs (Genus Eleutherodactylus) from Cuba
We studied the reproductive phenology of five endemic Eleutherodactylus species that coexist in a mountain rainforest in Cuba and estimated their sex ratios at immature and mature stages. We tested the hypothesis that in Neotropical humid sites, reproductive activity in sympatric species will vary in the time of occurrence so that there is no complete temporal overlap. We also investigated whether the length of the breeding season was associated to relative testes size as a proxy for male–male competition. We inferred reproductive phenology from seasonal variation in the number of sexually active individuals, their gonad developmental stage, and male vocal activity from January 2003 to March 2004. Our data do not support the hypothesis of temporal segregation in reproduction for this assemblage because we found a prolonged reproductive pattern in the five species, but there was decreased breeding intensity in the cooler months (November–February). This deduction is supported by a drop in the weight of the ovaries and the number of vitellogenic follicles, absence of mature females or reduction of their abundance, and disappearance of male vocal activity in the winter. We found differences in relative testes size among species, which were not related to differences in the length of the breeding season, but rather to interspecific differences in sex ratio.ABSTRACT
Monthly variation in the number of adult males (black bars), adult females (gray bars), and immature individuals (white bars) of five Eleutherodactylus species at La Gran Piedra, Cuba, from January 2003 to March 2004. Line represents proportion of immature specimens each month (right axis).
Temporal variation in the weight of the ovaries of five Eleutherodactylus species at La Gran Piedra, Cuba, from January 2003 to March 2004. Black dots depict the monthly average value (±SE). Numbers show sample size in each month. Gray bars represent 2-mo average values. The same lowercase letters above each bar identify 2-mo periods that are not different according to post hoc Tukey's HSD test. The climatic data graph shows monthly values of rainfall (white bars) and mean temperature (dotted line) at the study area.
Temporal variation of the testicular volume of adult males in four Eleutherodactylus species at La Gran Piedra, Cuba, from January 2003 to March 2004. Black dots depict the monthly average value (±SE). Numbers show sample size in each month. Gray bars represent 2-mo average values. The same lowercase letters above each bar identify 2-mo periods that are not different according to post hoc Tukey's HSD test.
Temporal variation in the number of calling males of three Eleutherodactylus species counted per 5 min at La Gran Piedra, Cuba, from January 2003 to March 2004. Hollow symbols depict the monthly average value, filled symbols and lines represent values predicted by the GLMM (±SE).
Relation between minimum size of sexual maturity of each sex (males: black circles and continuous line; females: white circles and dotted line) and operational sex ratio (A) and relation between operational sex ratio and relative size of testes (B; calculated as the ratio between mean testes volume and mean SVL) in five Eleutherodactylus species at La Gran Piedra, Cuba. Trends represented using linear regression.
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