Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 4, 2026

Reproductive Techniques for Ovarian Monitoring and Control in Amphibians
Published on: May 12, 2019
Complex effects of sex reversal on reproductive success in wild frogs
Veronika Bókony1, Emese Balogh2, Nikolett Ujhegyi1,3
1Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Plant Protection Institute, HUN-REN Centre for Agricultural Research, Nagykovácsi út 26-30, 1029 Budapest, Hungary.
Abstract:
Sex reversal, when the environment overrides genotypic sex determination, may hasten or delay climate-driven extinction in ectothermic animals, depending on sex-reversed individuals' reproductive ability and offspring viability. Empirically, next to nothing is known about these traits in natural populations. Here, we present a comprehensive dataset of wild frogs to compare sex-reversed and sex-concordant males for fertility, attractiveness to females, intrasexual competitiveness, and offspring survival in various environments. We demonstrate uncompromised potential of sex-reversed males to mate and produce viable offspring, which are all genotypic females but have increased sex-reversal propensity. However, sex-reversed males realize reduced paternity in natural populations, possibly due to cryptic female choice. Furthermore, offspring of sex-reversed sires exhibit increased vulnerability to viral infection after heat stress. Our theoretical model predicts that these handicaps of sex-reversed males compromise their ability to compensate by producing female offspring for climate-driven male bias in phenotypic sex ratios, which reduces population viability. Therefore, sex reversal exacerbates the biodiversity consequences of environmental change.
Related Concept Videos
Background and Environment Affect Phenotype
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
Hybrid Zones
The Ratio of X Chromosome to Autosomes
Normal male Drosophila has a ratio of one X chromosome to two sets of autosomes. In contrast, normal female Drosophila...
Understanding Species and Reproductive Barriers
Dosage Compensation
In addition to sexual development, the X chromosome has genes involved in autosomal functions such as brain development and the immune system. Therefore, males and females with distinct numbers of X chromosomes will have...
