Reproductive Behavior of the Male Frog

Reproductive condition include whether or not the phallics were "calling," or vocalizing to attract a mate; and also whether or not the fe anthropoids contained visible bollock (3:425). These data were recorded each time a catch was captured. As is illustrated by Ovaska's table 1, E. johnstonei's reproduction is trustedly seasonal. Moreover, at both the Bellairs and Greenwich locations, the numbers of calling males was highest in JulyAugust. In adjunct, the prevalence females with eggs was highest in JulyAugust. Breeding apparently stopped during the winter. surrounded by December and March, males' calling behaviors ceased. This may have been the result of blue temperatures. Calling began anew though the following April on nights with levelheaded rain. One difference observed between the two locations was that male calling persisted about a month longer at the Bellairs site (3:427).

In addition to its tables, Ovaska (1991) also contains 4 figures. The counterbalance describes the monthly soil moisture for the different auditional sites. This was highest for the build beneath the Bellairs site's bromeliads. On a nightly basis, such factors as temperature and humidity were found to profoundly affect E. johnstonei's activity levels. picture 2 shows the numbers of living salientians at each site. Although bounteous frog populations remained relatively constant, the numbers of

3. Ovaska, K. Reproductive phenology, population structure, and habitat use of the frog genus genus Eleutherodactylus johnstonei in Barbados, West Indies. Journal of Herpetology. 25:424430; 1991.

Thus, male E. johnstonei frogs have got an array of mating evasive actions. Territorial behaviors are common in species with a prolonged breeding season. Ovaska and Hunte (1992) observed, however, that as population densities increased, frog spacing became more even. This fact implies the presence of some door distance. For E. johnstonei calling may be advantageous under certain circumstances, and less favorable in others. Calling activities require sizeable energy. It is perhaps most effective that for large frogs or frogs with high perches.

At greater frog densities, there may be intense competition for calling sites. Ovaska and Hunte's (1992) removal experiment showed that absent callers were quickly replaced. In fact, with large numbers of frogs, it may be the satellites that actually do most of the mating. Furthermore, these males need only sit quietly next to a caller. The strategy is typically adopted by smaller, less attractive frogs. In addition to density, satellite behaviors may be influenced by other factors as well. For some frogs, it may just be a point of rest between calling activities (1:48). A third evasive action observed in male E. johnstonei involved disrupting courtships. Employed infrequently, this tactic rarely met with success.

1. Ovaska, K.; Hunte, W. Male mating behavior of the frog Eleutherodactylus johnstonei (Leptodactylidae) in Barbados, West Indies. Herpetologica. 48:4049; 1992.

Finally, during 6 nights at the Bellairs site, 36 calling males were removed from their territories. In additional, an compare number of control frogs were left undisturbed. Then, during the subsequent few hours, each new calling males were identified.

As various studies have revealed, male frogs of the species, E. johnstonei, use three
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