10.5061/DRYAD.MM03G7J
Green, David M.
McGill University
Data from: The rarity of size-assortative mating in animals: assessing the
evidence with anuran amphibians
Dryad
dataset
2018
Mating Systems
Methods: meta-analysis
Speciation: sympatric
Anurans (frogs and toads)
Behavior: reproductive
Mate choice
Ecology: behavioral
2018-09-28T15:36:05Z
2018-09-28T15:36:05Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1086/701124
54854 bytes
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CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Assortative mating in animals can have substantial evolutionary impact.
Numerous reports also make it appear to be pervasive in occurrence. In
assortative mating, defined here in behavioral terms, animals select their
mates according to a particular shared trait such that mated individuals
resemble each other phenotypically more than expected by chance. Body size
is a widely studied assortment trait. This is especially relevant for
anuran amphibians (frogs and toads), among whom reproductive advantages
may accrue to large individuals of both sexes. Anurans also exhibit
discrete forms of male mating behavior. Sedentary calling behavior of
“sitters” allows for female choice whereas fighting for possession of
mates by “scramblers” precludes female choice. Size-assortative mating in
anurans, therefore, should be a property of sitters, not scramblers. I
used meta-analysis to assess the occurrence of true size-assortative
mating in relation to mating behaviour and other variables in 282 studies
of 68 species of anurans. I found publication bias against reporting
non-significant results and analytical bias resulting from pooling of
samples collected at different times or places (Simpson’s Paradox). Pooled
samples significantly inflated the apparent occurrence and strength of
size-assortative mating. Controlling for such biases left little credible
evidence for size-assortative mating behavior in any anurans. Instead,
large-male advantage among scramblers was associated with a 2° pattern of
concomitant non-random mating. In this “disproportionate” mating, neither
sex behaves according to mate choice rules that could lead to consistently
strong assortment. It should thus have relatively little evolutionary
impact compared to true assortative mating.
Green Size-assortative mating data for DryadEffect sizes and associated
data for meta-analysis of the reported occurrence and strength of
size-assortative mating among anuran amphibians