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Within-population variation in ejaculate characteristics in a prolonged breeder, Peron’s tree frog, Litoria peronii

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Abstract

Sperm number is often a good predictor of success in sperm competition; however, it has become increasingly clear that, for some species, variation in probability of paternity cannot be explained by sperm number alone. Intraspecific variation in ejaculate characteristics, such as the number of viable sperm and sperm longevity, may play an equally important role in determining fertilization success. Here, we assess variation among ejaculates in three factors that may contribute to fertilization success (number of sperm per ejaculate, viability, and longevity), in a population of Peron’s tree frog (Litoria peronii). We detected large variation among males in the number of sperm per ejaculate and the proportion of viable sperm within ejaculates, which could not be explained by variation in either male size or body condition. However, the proportion of viable sperm released by males increased over the season. Finally, we assessed sperm longevity (proportion viable sperm determined using a dual-fluorochrome vital dye) at two different temperatures. At 23°C, on average, 75% of sperm remained viable after 2 h, but there were significant differences amongst males with the percentage of viable sperm ranging from 43% to 95%. For sperm incubated at 4°C, ejaculates varied fivefold in sperm longevity with some males having 50% viable sperm after 5 days. Our data suggest that ejaculate characteristics (sperm number, viability, and longevity) vary widely in Peron’s tree frog and may therefore play an important role in determining siring success both in the presence and absence of sperm competition. We discuss the results in relation to selection on ejaculate traits via natural and sexual selection in this and other amphibians.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Australian Research Council Discovery Grants to MO and EW (Grant # DP0559867) and TU (grant # DP0664403). We thank Ken Griffiths, Carlos Reyes, Glen Murray, and Adam Moore for their help with field and laboratory work, the Fahey family for access to breeding ponds at Darkes forest, and three anonymous reviewers for their insightful comments. TU was supported by the Wenner-Gren Foundations. All works were carried out in accordance with National Parks and Wildlife Services permit S11186, the University of Wollongong Animal Ethics Committee (permits AE04/03–05), and comply with the current laws of Australia.

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  1. Tobias Uller

    Present address: Edward Grey Institute, School of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biological Sciences, The University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, 2522, Australia

    Craig D. H. Sherman, Tobias Uller & Mats Olsson

  2. School of Zoology, Private Bag 5, The University of Tasmania, Hobart, 7001, Tasmania, Australia

    Erik Wapstra

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  1. Craig D. H. Sherman
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Correspondence to Craig D. H. Sherman.

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Sherman, C.D.H., Uller, T., Wapstra, E. et al. Within-population variation in ejaculate characteristics in a prolonged breeder, Peron’s tree frog, Litoria peronii . Naturwissenschaften 95, 1055–1061 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-008-0423-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-008-0423-7

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