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Drop dead! Female mate avoidance in an explosively breeding frog.

Carolin Dittrich1,2,3, Mark-Oliver Rödel1,3

  • 1Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Invalidenstraße 43, 10115 Berlin, Deutschland.

Royal Society Open Science
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Summary

Female common frogs exhibit surprising mate avoidance behaviors, including rotation, release calls, and death feigning. Smaller females are more successful in escaping unwanted male amplexus during explosive breeding events.

Keywords:
European common frogdeath feigningexperiencesexual conflictthanatosistonic immobility

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Area of Science:

  • Zoology
  • Animal Behavior
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • Sexual conflict arises from differing reproductive strategies between males and females.
  • In explosive breeding anurans, females face increased mortality risk due to male harassment and unwanted amplexus.
  • Previous literature suggested female anurans lack effective strategies to reject males during mating.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate and describe female mate avoidance behaviors in the European common frog (Rana temporaria).
  • To determine if observed behaviors are associated with female body size and success in escaping amplexus.
  • To challenge the notion of passive female behavior in explosive breeding anurans.

Main Methods:

  • Observational study of European common frogs during explosive breeding events.
  • Documentation and categorization of female anti-predator and mate-avoidance behaviors.
  • Statistical analysis correlating female body size with observed behaviors and escape success.

Main Results:

  • Three distinct female avoidance behaviors were identified: rotation, release calls, and tonic immobility (death feigning).
  • These behaviors were significantly associated with smaller female body size.
  • Smaller females demonstrated a higher success rate in escaping unwanted male amplexus.

Conclusions:

  • European common frogs exhibit active mate avoidance strategies, contrary to previous assumptions.
  • Female body size plays a crucial role in the effectiveness of these avoidance tactics.
  • These findings highlight female agency in reproductive encounters within explosive breeding anuran species.