Condition-dependent reproductive effort in frogs infected by a widespread pathogen

Roznik, Elizabeth A., Sapsford, Sarah J., Pike, David A., Schwarzkopf, Lin, and Alford, Ross A. (2015) Condition-dependent reproductive effort in frogs infected by a widespread pathogen. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B, Biological Sciences, 282. 20150694. pp. 1-8.

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Abstract

To minimize the negative effects of an infection on fitness, hosts can respond adaptively by altering their reproductive effort or by adjusting their timing of reproduction. We studied effects of the pathogenic fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis on the probability of calling in a stream-breeding rainforest frog (Litoria rheocola). In uninfected frogs, calling probability was relatively constant across seasons and body conditions, but in infected frogs, calling probability differed among seasons (lowest in winter, highest in summer) and was strongly and positively related to body condition. Infected frogs in poor condition were up to 40% less likely to call than uninfected frogs, whereas infected frogs in good condition were up to 30% more likely to call than uninfected frogs. Our results suggest that frogs employed a pre-existing, plastic, life-history strategy in response to infection, which may have complex evolutionary implications. If infected males in good condition reproduce at rates equal to or greater than those of uninfected males, selection on factors affecting disease susceptibility may be minimal. However, because reproductive effort in infected males is positively related to body condition, there may be selection on mechanisms that limit the negative effects of infections on hosts.

Item ID: 39714
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1471-2954
Funders: Australian Research Council (ARC), Skyrail Rainforest Foundation, James Cook University
Projects and Grants: ARC Linkage Grant LP0776927, ARC Discovery grant DP0986537, ARC Discovery grant DP130101635
Date Deposited: 06 Aug 2015 01:51
FoR Codes: 05 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 0502 Environmental Science and Management > 050202 Conservation and Biodiversity @ 100%
SEO Codes: 96 ENVIRONMENT > 9604 Control of Pests, Diseases and Exotic Species > 960404 Control of Animal Pests, Diseases and Exotic Species in Forest and Woodlands Environments @ 100%
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