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Tadpole begging reveals high quality
M B Dugas1,2, S A Strickler2,3, J L Stynoski4
1Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Journal of Evolutionary Biology
|March 22, 2017
Summary
Parental resource allocation is influenced by offspring signals. In Oophaga pumilio frogs, tadpole begging signals offspring quality, guiding maternal provisioning decisions for high-quality young.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Biology
- Animal Behavior
- Parental Care
Background:
- Parental resource allocation among offspring is crucial for reproductive success.
- Offspring solicitation, or begging, is hypothesized to convey valuable information to parents.
- Understanding the honest signaling of offspring needs and quality is key to parental investment theory.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the 'honest begging' hypotheses (Signal of Need, Signal of Quality, Signal of Hunger) in Oophaga pumilio tadpoles.
- To determine if tadpole begging signals provide information about their condition or hunger level to provisioning mothers.
- To investigate how maternal provisioning decisions are influenced by offspring solicitation signals.
Main Methods:
- Experimental manipulation of tadpole condition (need/quality) and food deprivation (hunger).
- Observation and measurement of tadpole begging signals (stiffening, rapid vibration).
- Cross-fostering experiments with a nonbegging species and analysis of maternal provisioning allocation.
Main Results:
- Tadpole begging effort and performance were higher in more developed, higher-condition tadpoles.
- Begging declined with increased food deprivation, contradicting the Signal of Hunger hypothesis.
- Mothers provisioned larger meals to more developed tadpoles and those exhibiting faster vibration speeds.
- Maternal provisioning decisions were consistent with the Signal of Quality hypothesis, not Signal of Need or Hunger.
Conclusions:
- Offspring solicitation (begging) in Oophaga pumilio tadpoles evolves to signal offspring quality to parents.
- Maternal provisioning decisions are based on offspring solicitation signals, favoring high-quality young.
- This study provides evidence for honest signaling in parent-offspring interactions within a species with active maternal allocation.
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