Thesis submitted to the Faculty ofScience,
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
in fulfilment of the requirements for the
degree Gf'Doctol' ofPhilosophy,
(!
JOHANNESBURG
January 1991 / This work examines aspects of sexual reproduction in the previously littlestudied
Leaf-foldillg Frog, A£rixalus dellcatus,
The taxonomic status of this species was determined using the Mate Recognition
System to deUmJt the species boundary. Male social behaviour was investigated
with particular reference to. the structure and functional partitioning of the twopart
advertisement call; the maintenance of intermale spacing and the effects of
chorus size on the sp'atial separation of males; chorus organisation; call site
selecticn and fidelity to. call sites. The climatic factors influencing male behaviour
were also examined. The mating success of calling and satellite males was
determined and the possible causes of the variation in mating success were
examined.
Female behavioul' was also extensively studied, Females were found to produce
a .$xnall numbel' of large eggs tI1at are protected in leaf nests. Oviposition site
rf¥tq~em;(;;lntswere detertnined, and the concentration of nests examined.
"~~l~a1ti;ll>ll ·Sl'P!OO'$$$ Wlll;S fou'DiGi'tobe lligh. Some females were found to be
llol~atl:d~(;)llS, ma:~r:tfgwit~ up to three nl,ales. The behaviour of females in the
'cl.mQ~t:tsW~ observed andfemales were round to generally mate with one of the
nearw ma1$s irrespective of morphology or behaviour. The potential and actual
a,,(lcutacyormata loc.alisation was determined.
This study of a species' mating system and its flexibility in relation to eeclogleal,
ph1~o.1~~td and social pressures' allowed for a more thorough understanding oi
anlllrtUl.rep:tod~etive behavlour and its evtiiution.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:wits/oai:wiredspace.wits.ac.za:10539/20426 |
| Date | 06 June 2016 |
| Creators | Backwell, Patricia Ruth Yvonne |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | application/pdf |
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